2005, Alcon Entertainment
Live action
Rating: PG
Approx. 102 mins.
THE STORY:
Stripes, a baby zebra, is left behind by a circus caravan in the confusion of a rainstorm. Fortunately, he is rescued by Nolan (Bruce Greenwood), a former horse trainer and his daughter Channing (Hayden Panettiere). He grows up believing himself to be a horse, in a paddock overlooking a race track, and dreams of a career as a thoroughbred. Though teased and dismissed by the neighbouring racehorses, he is shown friendship and support by the motley band of animals inhabiting his farm, most notably a motherly goat (Whoopie Goldberg) and a cranky miniature horse (Dustin Hoffman).
Both Stripes and Channing become obsessed with the idea of racing together, but their plan is complicated by obvious factors-- Stripes has no training and is a zebra-- and more complex issues. Channing's mother died in a horse accident and her father refuses to train another horse or allow Channing to ride. Meanwhile Stripes discovers that he is not a horse and this throws his sense of identity for a loop.
With the help of the humans and animals around him, Stripes rediscovers his passion and confidence. After some training and some underhanded attempts to stop him, Stripes runs in the Kentucky Open, and manages to prove himself.
Both Stripes and Channing become obsessed with the idea of racing together, but their plan is complicated by obvious factors-- Stripes has no training and is a zebra-- and more complex issues. Channing's mother died in a horse accident and her father refuses to train another horse or allow Channing to ride. Meanwhile Stripes discovers that he is not a horse and this throws his sense of identity for a loop.
With the help of the humans and animals around him, Stripes rediscovers his passion and confidence. After some training and some underhanded attempts to stop him, Stripes runs in the Kentucky Open, and manages to prove himself.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- stupid
- idiot
- shut up
VIOLENCE:
- none
TEACHING POINTS:
- judge others for what is inside not outside
- don't let others tell you who or what you can be
- appreciate others for the time and kindnesses they give you
THE UPSHOT:
This is a good example of a movie that has everything going for it, but somehow just doesn't land. The acting and voices are pretty good, the special effects are pretty seamless, the story has potential, and the humour is engaging thanks to flies Buzz and Scuzz (Steve Harvey & David Spade, respectively).
The main problems are twofold: 1) the central character lacks charisma and the capacity to induce empathy, and 2) the narrative tries to include so many different story elements that nothing really gets sufficiently examined and resolved. In the end, it just seems like a tapeworm: unnecessarily long, unnecessarily flat, and maybe even just plain unnecessary
The main problems are twofold: 1) the central character lacks charisma and the capacity to induce empathy, and 2) the narrative tries to include so many different story elements that nothing really gets sufficiently examined and resolved. In the end, it just seems like a tapeworm: unnecessarily long, unnecessarily flat, and maybe even just plain unnecessary
3/5
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