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Parents' Guide to

Spirit Untamed

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

So-so story, strong girls in upbeat horse adventure; peril.

Movie PG 2021 88 minutes
Spirit Untamed Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 7+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Sierraek
Sierraek Parent of 9-year-old
July 1, 2021
age 10+

Movie looks good but not recommended for under 10

Story is underwhelming and typical. The main character doesn't listen to her dad. Puts herself into dangerous situations with no adults in sight. Sneaks out of the house and stays out all night while her dad worries. There was a message about treating animals with respect but that's it.
1 person found this helpful.
kate K.
kate K. Parent of 2-year-old
December 31, 2022
age 12+

Bad main character role model making dangerous decisions

This movie has alot of violence and scary bits. In one scene one of the villains tries to hit the main character lucky with a crow bar. Lucky put herself and others in multiple dangerous situations with out consulting adults. She lies to her dad and also disobey him buy going to do exactly what he tells her not to do which is going to and riding an untamed horse. I get that this is the movie but she never gets in trouble for disobeying him. Makes lucky feel like she can make her own rules and obey the one she chooses. She is not a good role model. It's a shame because the movie had potential.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SPIRIT UNTAMED follows Fortuna "Lucky" Prescott, whose mother dies while doing a stunt in a rodeo show when Lucky is very young. She's raised to be a proper lady in the city by her Aunt Cora (Julianne Moore), until an unfortunate incident forces Cora to take Lucky to visit her father, Jim (Jake Gyllenhaal), who lives in the fictional frontier bordertown of Miradero. On the way there, Lucky sees a wild mustang and instantly feels drawn to it. When the horse, whom she calls Spirit, ends up in a local rancher's corral, Lucky keeps visiting him. She overhears a group of men, who are actually a band of thieves, boasting about their plans to steal wild horses and take them across the border -- beyond the reach of the law. Lucky, who's barely ridden a horse before, manages to convince her new Miradero friends, rodeo girls Pru (Marsai Martin) and Abigail (McKenna Grace), to join her in a dangerous plan to take Spirit (and the two other girls' horses) on a rescue mission to save Spirit's family.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9 ):
Kids say (12 ):

Horse-loving kids will enjoy this predictably sweet story about a trio of plucky girls in the Old West who defy the odds to save a pack of wild horses. Directors Elaine Bogan and Ennio Torresan's tale is part origin story for Lucky and Spirit, part "road trip" adventure (if you replace "road" with "horseback"), and part obvious setup for more about Lucky, her newfound best friends, and their horses in the little town of Miradero. There's plenty in Spirit Untamed for kids to enjoy: the horses, the vast animated frontier landscapes, the girls' daredevil personalities (particularly Lucky and Abigail; Pru usually serves as the voice of reason), and the silly duo of Abigail's entrepreneurial little brother, Snips (Lucian Perez), and his pet donkey, Señor Carrots. The girls' friendship grows quickly under the circumstances -- and thanks to their mutual affinity for horses. And any movie that includes strong female friendships (that have nothing to do with attracting boys) should be applauded.

Parents, on the other hand, may find themselves slightly underwhelmed at aspects of the plotline, particularly the lost opportunity to address and provide context around the intentionally diverse group of characters. Lucky's Latinx heritage is all but ignored, beyond the inclusion of a few Spanish words and a couple of early conversations. That aside, the movie is fun for younger audiences, and it will remind viewers about the importance of forming close friendships and strengthening parent-child trust. Parents and kids alike should also dig the soundtrack, which includes Fleet Foxes' "Ragged Wood," Taylor Swift's "Wildest Dreams," and original songs by star Merced.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the character strengths demonstrated in Spirit Untamed. Which characters demonstrate courage, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are those skills so important?

  • How does the movie tackle race and gender on the western frontier? Do fictional stories need to put gender roles and race relations in context for the time in which they're set? How can a story incorporate diverse voices while staying authentic?

  • Which characters do you consider role models? Does the story address the consequences of the girls' decisions and behavior? What do they learn from their mistakes?

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