Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring true story of teen recovering from severe injury.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Walk. Ride. Rodeo.
What's the Story?
Amberley Snyder (Spencer Locke) is a very lucky girl as WALK. RIDE. RODEO. opens. She has wonderful parents and loving siblings and is looking forward to college. But what matters most to Amberley is riding. She's been riding horses on her parents' ranch since she was a very little girl. Amberley's good at it, so good that she's found great success as a barrel racer in rodeo competition with Power, her own special horse. A tragic accident changes everything. Thrown from her truck in an accident, Amberley sustains life-altering injuries. Paralyzed from the waist down, Amberley and her family are devastated. It isn't long, however, before her parents, Tina (Missi Pyle) and Cory (Bailey Chase), discover that Amberley is not to be defeated. With their help and the committed care of medical professionals, the teen determines not just to ride horses again, but also to compete in the rodeo. It's a daunting challenge, with serious ups and downs, but one that Amberley faces with courage and heart.
Is It Any Good?
A feisty, true-life heroine and beautiful horses offset this predictable message-driven story about accepting adversity and the power of determination and courage. Solid performances balance some of the rockier ones, and the efforts to create an honest re-enactment (guided by Amberley Snyder) are admirable. Stories like hers deserve to be told, and what makes Walk. Ride. Rodeo. special is the awareness that Snyder does all of the stunt riding herself. Snyder, seat-belted in the saddle (sadly she wasn't wearing such a belt when the truck overturned), insisted on riding because the method she's adapted is unique and couldn't be imitated by anyone. Fine for family viewing, especially for girls who love horses and stories about good people who "give up, give in, and give it their all."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what movies like Walk. Ride. Rodeo. teach us. Clearly this story is about conquering a life-changing accident and accepting one's limitations, but how can the messages it delivers be valuable for everyone? Think of a situation in which you might have used a concept like "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."
How did Amberley's story illustrate such character strengths as courage, perseverance, communication, and teamwork? Besides Amberley, who are the role models in this film? Why?
Over the course of the movie, Amberley says, "We don't always choose what happens to us, but we do get to choose what we do next." Give some examples of situations where you have found this statement to be true.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 8, 2019
- Cast : Spencer Locke , Missi Pyle , Bailey Chase
- Director : Conor Allyn
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Courage , Gratitude , Perseverance , Self-control
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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