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"FLICKA" (2006) (Alison Lohman, Tim McGraw) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons None Mild Moderate *Moderate Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None Moderate None Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None Heavy Moderate Moderate QUICK TAKE: Drama: An aimless teen finds purpose in her life as she clashes with her rancher father over a wild mustang she's found and wants for herself. PLOT: It's the summer and teenager Katy McLaughlin (ALISON LOHMAN) has returned to her family's Wyoming horse ranch after spending the year at a private academy where her lack of focus has resulted in her not being invited back the following year. She knows that her older brother, Howard (RYAN KWANTEN), will understand, especially since he'd rather head off to college with his girlfriend Miranda (KAYLEE DeFER) than raise quarter horses at the Goose Creek Ranch. However, Katy's reluctant to tell her parents -- Rob (TIM McGRAW) and Nell (MARIO BELLO) -- since they've sacrificed so much to send her off to college so that she can have a life other than ranching. And with the local rodeo more interested in wild horses than the ones they breed, money is becoming increasingly tight. Accordingly, rather than give them the bad news, she takes a horseback ride across their far-reaching lands where she not only encounters a menacing mountain lion, but also a wild mustang that saves her life from it. She eventually returns and tries to capture the horse for her own, an act that doesn't win any points with her father since he's since learned of her academic troubles and views wild horses as a threat to his business. As ranch hands Jack (DANNY PINO) and Gus (DALLAS ROBERTS) look on, Katy nevertheless tries to gain the confidence of the mustang she's named Flicka, and she feels an affinity with the horse as both are restless spirits. As the summer wears on and Katy and her dad repeatedly clash over the horse, her school and more, the two eventually learn things about themselves and each other that soon redefine their relationship. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into horses, are fans of anyone in the cast, or the original novel and/or movie, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For some mild language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: ALISON LOHMAN plays an aimless teenager who's flunked out of her private school and is afraid to tell her parents. She'd rather work on the ranch than go off to school, and thus clashes with her father over that as well as her attempts to adopt Flicka. She repeatedly disobeys his rules, but is determined to win the horse's confidence, no matter the costs. TIM McGRAW plays her hardworking father who's disappointed in her regarding her schooling as well as her stubborn insistence on making Flicka hers. He clashes with her while also trying to figure out the future of his ranch. MARIO BELLO plays his supportive wife who tries to maintain the peace within their home and make her husband see their daughter for who she is. RYAN KWANTEN plays Katy's older brother who's hesitant to tell their father that he'd rather go off to college and make a different sort of living for himself rather than work on and eventually take over the ranch. DANNY PINO and DALLAS ROBERTS play workers who help around the ranch. KAYLEE DeFER plays Howard's girlfriend who wants him to inform his parents about his decision to go to college rather than stay at the ranch. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's been rated PG. Profanity consists of a handful of minor expletives, while a few colorful phrases are also uttered. Some brief and non-explicit, sexually related dialogue is present, as is the sight of a teen's bare back in a bathtub (to show the bad bruise on her back from being kicked by a horse), another teen in a bikini, and (separately) some shirtless men. Some bad attitudes are present, mainly between a father and his teenage daughter as they clash about her behavior and his rules (which leads to tense family moments). A few scenes involving a mountain lion (including it taking down a horse by the throat, and injuring but not killing it) may be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers, while some characters are kicked by or thrown off horses. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some handheld camera footage in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE None. BLOOD/GORE While out riding, Katy's horse spooks, throwing her to the ground. When Katy returns home, Nell says she has blood on her, but we don't see any then (although she has a few slight abrasions on her face later). Flicka rears up and hits Katy quite hard on her back (we later see a very bad-looking bruise there). Katy has a dried cut on her chin (from earlier being thrown). We see what looks like blood on Flicka, but it's at night after raining, and the horse is black, so we just see wetness on her. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE One of the ranch-hands, Gus, jokes to Howard, wondering when he's going to put his brand on Miranda (presumably meaning become engaged). Katy doesn't inform her parents that she was kicked out of school for failing to write her final essay, and then repeatedly disobeys her father's rules about dealing with Flicka. Katy and her dad briefly experience bad attitudes toward each other during tense family moments. Howard agrees to help Katy enter a "wild horse race" at a rodeo, despite her being too young and knowing how their father feels about her and Flicka (the horse she wants to ride). During the event and seeing her dad racing to stop her, Katy rides Flicka (now owned by the rodeo) out of the event (essentially stealing her). FRIGHTENING SCENES The following may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger kids, but probably not as much to older ones or adults. While out riding, Katy's horse spooks, throwing her to the ground. Katy then spots the cause, a mountain lion and she scrambles away quickly, ending up tumbling down a hill where she sees the mustang (that will be known as Flicka) chase the big cat away. When Katy returns home, Nell says she has blood on her, but we don't see any then (although she has a few slight abrasions on her face later). Nell picks up a snake she's named (it's wild) and gives it a kiss (those afraid of snakes might find that unsettling). On her own horse, Katy chases Flicka, lassoing the mustang. But she's pulled from her ride and along the ground for a moment before letting go. After the horse passes by him and makes his horses race off, Rob gives chase, eventually lassoing Flicka just as she and the rest of the horses were quickly approaching a cliff (seen from above so we see the depth of the potential fall). Katy becomes very upset when she sees that her dad is selling Flicka to the local rodeo. She's quite emotional and yells, "You're not my father anymore," but the rodeo man takes the horse away in a trailer (this might be unsettling for some younger viewers). Katy is thrown off Flicka and we then see a mountain lion jump down from a tree onto the horse, grabbing it by the neck and pulling it down to the ground. Katy then rushes up and the big cat runs off, but Flicka is badly injured and collapses to the ground. Katy then tries to tend to the horse in the rain at night. Later, and back home, Katy develops a high fever (105) and is unconscious from that. We see one of the ranch hands carrying a rifle in the house, telling Rob that Flicka is badly wounded from a mountain lion attack. Rob then orders that they shoot the horse, but the ranch hands say they can't (since Katy will hear the shot), so Rob says he'll do it himself. As he's about to leave, a sick Katy (with a high fever) tells her dad that it's okay, adding, "You can shoot us." Later, she thinks she hears a shot, but isn't sure if it was that or a clap of thunder (it was the latter). GUNS/WEAPONS We see one of the ranch hands carrying a rifle in the house, telling Rob that Flicka is badly wounded from a mountain lion attack. Rob then orders that they shoot the horse, but the ranch hands say they can't (since Katy will hear the shot), so Rob says he'll do it himself. As he's about to leave, a sick Katy (with a high fever) tells her dad that it's okay, adding, "You can shoot us." Later, she thinks she hears a shot, but isn't sure if it was that or a clap of thunder (it was the latter). IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Loco," "Flicka" (a beautiful young girl), "I don't have to do a damn thing," "Psychobabble," "Dang," "Before you look like a damn fool," "The inmates have taken over the asylum," "Kick some cowboy ass," "Are you frickin' crazy?" "I'm an idiot" and "I really screwed up." The film might inspire some kids to approach wild animals (and maybe try to ride an unfamiliar horse). Nell playfully pours water on Katy. Nell picks up a snake she's named (it's wild) and gives it a kiss. About seeing Nell doing some country line dancing, Rob playfully licks his finger and makes a sizzle sound. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 4 damns (give or take a few that may or may not be "dang"), 1 ass and 4 uses of "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY We briefly see Howard shirtless as he's putting on a shirt. We see Katy in the back of a truck and the strap of her small blouse is down off her shoulder (not done intentionally). We see Katy's bare back (with a very bad bruise on it from where Flicka kicked her) as she's seated in a bathtub facing away from the camera (but there's a fleeting glimpse of just part of the side of her bare breast). Howard briefly kisses Miranda, his girlfriend. We see Gus shirtless while working. Rob and Nell decide to race back to the ranch on horseback, with Rob jokingly adding that the last one back gets naked first. Howard is shirtless while trying to convince Katy to go swimming with him. She agrees and both jump into a lake (she's in shorts and a top), with Miranda then running up (in a small bikini) and joining them. We later see them sitting on the dock and see Miranda in her bikini top. Jack comments about the cologne he's wearing, calling himself a "sexy beast." About seeing Nell doing some country line dancing, Rob playfully licks his finger and makes a sizzle sound. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Rob is upset with Katy when he learns that she's been kicked out of her private school (for failing to write her final essay), and he reminds her that they did without on the ranch so that she could go to that academy. Rob is upset with Katy over her going out and trying to catch Flicka. Katy says that Flicka is hers, but Rob says she isn't, telling Nell that he's not going to reward bad behavior. Howard wants to leave the ranch and ranch life to accept a scholarship far away, but is afraid to tell his dad. Howard tells Katy about their dad, "You're the one he needs (on the ranch), he just doesn't realize it yet." Rob is thinking about selling the ranch to developers, thus causing Katy to be furious and tell him he can't. Katy tells Howard that she hates their father (Howard says just for the day), with her adding, "He never understands me." Rob is mad about Katy trying to ride Flicka again, and raises his voice toward Nell while angry. Katy becomes very upset when she sees that her dad is selling Flicka to the local rodeo. She's quite emotional and yells, angrily telling Rob, "You're not my father anymore." Nell tells him to stop "before you look like a damn fool," and Howard agrees, with Rob then being mad back at him (but the rodeo guy takes the horse he just bought from them) Rob and Nell worry about Katy when they can't find her at night, as well as when they do and she then develops a fever (up to 105 degrees) and is unconscious. We see one of the ranch hands carrying a rifle in the house, telling Rob that Flicka is badly wounded from a mountain lion attack. Rob then orders that they shoot the horse, but the ranch hands say they can't (since Katy will hear the shot), so Rob says he'll do it himself. As he's about to leave, a sick Katy (with a high fever) tells her dad that it's okay, adding, "You can shoot us." Later, she thinks she hears a shot, but isn't sure if it was that or a clap of thunder (it was the latter). Rob apologizes to Katy, but does so while she's unconscious from a fever. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Dealing with wild animals. Teens who seem aimless. Strained parent/child relationships. Katy doesn't inform her parents that she was kicked out of school for failing to write her final essay. The question that if quitters don't win, how are you supposed to quit when you're ahead. Nell saying that parents have selective memory, especially regarding anything dealing with being responsible for something or someone you love so much. Katy says that Flicka is hers, but Rob says she isn't, telling Nell that he's not going to reward bad behavior. Howard wants to leave the ranch and ranch life to accept a scholarship far away, but is afraid to tell his dad. The comment that animals will tell you how they feel, and you just have to listen. Rob is thinking about selling the ranch to developers, thus causing Katy to be furious and tell him he can't. Katy writing that the history of the West was written by the horse. VIOLENCE While out riding, Katy's horse spooks, throwing her to the ground. When Katy returns home, Nell says she has blood on her, but we don't see any then (although she has a few slight abrasions on her face later). Flicka rears up and hits Katy quite hard on her back (we later see a very bad-looking bruise there). Katy is thrown from Flicka (but is okay). Katy is thrown off Flicka, this time hurting her side. As various men try to mount wild horses at the rodeo, some are thrown off and a few bang into each other (but are otherwise okay). Katy is thrown off Flicka and we then see a mountain lion jump down from a tree onto the horse, grabbing it by the neck and pulling it down to the ground. Katy then rushes up and the big cat runs off, but Flicka is badly injured and collapses to the ground. Reviewed October 14, 2006 / Posted October 20, 2006

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