Flicka
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
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16-year-old Katy McLaughlin dreams of fulfilling her family legacy by working on her father's ranch in modern-day Wyoming. But Katy's father wants more for her, insisting that Katy go to college. Katy finds a wild mustang, which she names Flicka, and sets out to make her a riding horse. But Flicka and Katy are more alike than she could have imagined. Like Katy, Flicka has a disdain for authority and is not about to give up her freedom without a fight.

I don't know what it is about animal stories, but quite often I get sucked in more than I would a human drama. Although this is usually the case, it wasn't so with the horse flick Flicka.

Poor Alison Lohman. Although she's proven herself to be one of Hollywood's up-and-comers, she still stuck playing teenagers despite being well into her mid-20s. Sure, she looks young for her age and she's a great actress, but I wish she'd get some meatier material to work with like she did in Atom Egoyan's Where the Truth Lies. Her talents are largely wasted here on a melodramatic script that is far too predictable.

Granted, Flicka is meant to be a wholesome film for family audiences, but if it's going to be a paint-by-numbers plot then there should be an emotional core to hang it on. Here it all boils down to an over-protective dad and a daughter who wants to break free. The symbolism is about as subtle as a stop sign.

In the beginning I did my best to buy into the vibe of the film, consider its intended audience and take it for what was. I'm sorry, but just because there's some horses it doesn't mean that horse fans are going to love it. They may be forgiving but I'm certain some hearts are going to be honest, even if they don't admit it.

Video: How's it look?
The dual-sided disc includes both widescreen and full screen formats. I was a little disappointed with the picture as it seemed a little bleached and blotchy in parts. It could be the source material, but for something set on the gorgeous plains of the US, it stood out but not in a good way.

Audio: How's it sound?
The audio is strong with a Dolby 5.1 Surround English track. Dolby Surround French and Spanish tracks provide further options.

Extras: What additional goodies are included?

• Director Michael Mayer gives a commentary track that is largely colour commentary, although on occasion he does get a little deeper into the film's subtext.
• Three extended/deleted scenes with option commentary from Mayer.
• Bloopers.
• Gag reel.
• "My Little Girl" music video starring Tim McGraw.
• Trailers for Aquamarine, Because of Winn-Dixie and Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties.
• English and Spanish subtitles.

Closing Thoughts
Despite having a solid selection of supplemental materials, there's no way to overlook the film itself. Flicka is an overly melodramatic film that may find fans among some animal lovers but not much beyond.


Review brought to you by our friend Ryan @ Movie-Views.com