The Horses of McBride (2012) (aka: Christmas Rescue) Aidan Quinn, MacKenzie Porter, Kari Matchett, Edward Ruttle Movie Review

The Horses of McBride (2012)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Aidan Quinn and MacKenzie Porter in The Horses of McBride (2012) (aka: Christmas Rescue)

The Horse Miracle

Rancher Matt Davidson (Aidan Quinn - A Shine of Rainbows) and his son, Kenny (Edward Ruttle), are out looking for a couple of lost snowboarders up on their ranch when they spot a couple of horses trapped behind a snowdrift. Whilst Matt and Kenny accept it is a lost cause Matt's daughter, Nicki (MacKenzie Porter - Seattle Superstorm), refuses to give up, a familiar conflict in the Davidson home as she is angry that her dad has decided to sell the ranch she loves so much. Having contacted the SPCA they agree to airlift the horses out as long as a vet deems them well enough. Unfortunately, despite Nicki making the journey each day to tend to the horses the airlift plan is a no go. Refusing to be deterred or put off by the dangers in the area from wolves and avalanches Nicki decides they should dig a two mile trench to save these two horses which as others hear what is going on come to help

Whilst I know "The Horses of McBride", which is also known as "Christmas Rescue", is based upon a true story I have never heard of the story it is based upon and as such as I always do is make clear that I don't know how far from the truth the producers of the movie have strayed to, in this case, deliver a touching family drama. And in truth I don't mind if they have strayed because clearly "The Horses of McBride" was made to be an uplifting and inspiring family drama and that is what director Anne Wheeler has achieved.

Now there isn't a great deal to say when it comes to "The Horses of McBride" because whilst there are some minor subplots the two main things going on is the community spirit with people rallying around to dig out these two horses and that Matt realises what a determined daughter he has who deserves to be listened to. And both are uplifting stories which have power but with this being a family movie there is also some sentiment and at times it leads to some cheesy dialogue.

The thing is that whilst I could bemoan the occasional cheesy line in "The Horses of McBride" it seems petty because the movie delivers on what it sets out to and very much reminded me of the family adventure movies I watched as a child. Most of that is down to the snowy mountain setting and the whole odds stacked against some people but the conflict between a father who has given up and a daughter with youthful determination also had that familiarity which made me feel young again. As such it is the acting of Aidan Quinn and MacKenzie Porter who make the movie and deliver that father daughter mixture of love and conflict.

What this all boils down to is that "The Horses of McBride" is a solid family drama which tells a true story in a traditional family drama style which should mean it will work for not just young audiences but for their parents who might have watched something similar when they were younger.


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