Parents' Guide to Ride

It has all the elements of an overcooked, goopy, weepy soap opera, but this Texas-set drama comes surprisingly alive, populated with vivid characters, rich dialogue, and genuine emotions. The directorial debut for Jake Allyn, who also co-wrote the screenplay and plays Peter, Ride starts out a with a child diagnosed with cancer, a man suffering from drug and alcohol dependence and a guilty conscience, and a father with a grudge. And it's set against a rodeo backdrop, a world that, as often as not, is steeped in injury and heartbreak. But right from its opening scene—in which John seemingly goes back to the rodeo (it's actually a nightmare)—Ride proves itself alive and even tactile. The sounds and spaces of the rodeo feel real, even awe-inspiring. (The filmmakers clearly did their research.)

And despite the soapy plot, the characters speak and relate to each other in ways that feel honest. There are even a few surprises, including Howell breaking out a guitar and singing a heart-wrenching country song for his sick daughter. On the downside, middle-child character Noah (co-screenwriter Josh Plasse) doesn't have much to do other than be the peacekeeper in the center of everything. And his girlfriend, played by former American Idol contestant Laci Kaye Booth, who also sings, feels mostly gratuitous. But Ride makes up for its flaws with its honesty and its humanity, and it's difficult to come away untouched.