Review of Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story (2005) by Chads. — 08 Jan 2006

Yes, "Dreamer" can be a little disingenuous for the sake of tugging heartstrings. It may occur to some viewers that Sonador is being abused by Cale (Dakota Fanning) and her family. If the horse's owner was, say, Veruca Salt, we would be second-guessing the Crane's plans to run a horse that was rehabbing a broken leg.

What Cale is doing could be construed as borderline animal abuse, probably. But if you ignore this obscure angle, "Dreamer" actually works in spite of our abilities to recite all the sports movie cliches, chapter and verse.

If you're not jaded and cynical, the final outcome, unlikely although it may be, is actually more exciting than Seabiscuit's win, even though Sonador's story is largely fictionalized. But really, there should've been some acknowledgement by somebody in the movie, or the filmmaker, that Sonador could've reinjured her leg and be sent off to the Gary Larson Animal Hospital.

"Dreamer" hints at being a much darker film. Ben (Kurt Russell) already is something of a bastard, but then he lets her daughter make all the decisions concerning Sonador's future after the horse's leg is healed.

That's too much responsibility for a little girl. Fanning would've had the chance to outcry Ricky Schroeder in "The Champ" if her horse crumpled in a heap during the climactic race.