SECRETARIAT

Though it may come off as a bit saccharine or simple, this heartwarming Disney offering harkens back to the studio’s classic family films from decades ago.

Telling the true story of what many consider the greatest racehorse who ever lived, the drama follows the struggles of Colorado housewife Penny Chenery (Diane Lane), who takes over her family’s failing horse farm in Virginia the early 1970s and hitches her proverbial wagon to the promise of the titular young colt with fantastic genes.

Aided by colorful veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), caring groomsman Eddie Sweat (Nelsan Ellis), jockey Ron Turcotte (real-life jockey Otto Thorwarth), and her father’s loyal secretary, Miss Ham (Margo Martindale), Penny sets out to prove that, despite her inexperience in the field, she has what it takes to save the farm and produce a winning horse. To do so, she makes a bold claim: that thoroughbred “Big Red” – christened “Secretariat” for the racing circuit – can win the Triple Crown in the spring of 1973. That means winning the Preakness Stakes, the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes all within a five-week period... a feat virtually unheard-of but one that, if it were to happen, would secure Penny millions in stud fees and prize winnings. Nevermind silence the patronizing naysayers snickering at her efforts.

Unfolding like a standard-fare underdog movie set in the sports world, Secretariat tracks the ups and downs of both humans and horse alike, from early failures to setbacks to gradual success. And, even though the outcome of the film is no secret, it still manages to create enough tension and uncertainty that the audience remains engaged what’s happening onscreen. There are also some truly gorgeous sequences of horses in motion, and a nice use of sound to draw the viewer in very close to the action in an auditory way.

The cast is solid, with Lane turning in another earnest-woman-facing-the-odds role, and her Penny is equal parts chutzpah and heart. Dylan Walsh is kind of lost in the set-dressing role of Penny’s husband, but the other supporting players – including Kevin Connelly and Eric Lange as a pair of sports reporters – add nicely to the proceedings. And it doesn’t hurt that the equine cast members are all immensely handsome.

Now, sure, this might not be the most sophisticated cinematic offering to unspool in terms of storytelling – it’s very sweet, very straightforward and unabashedly embraces its pedigree as a feel-good crowd-pleaser – but so what? It’s a wonderful family film that kids will love and parents will enjoy.

DVD & BLU-RAY NOTES

The DVD and Blu-Ray include featurette "Heart of a Champion" about the real Secretariat, with interviews with several of the key players,and footage from the actual the races (as unbelievable as it is in the movie!), plus deleted scenes and a music video. The Blu-Ray also includes an interesting, video-gamey interactive play-by-play of the Preakness race, where you can select commentary from the jockey, an announcer, and even a fan that was at the race, narrating their unique perspectives. There are also featurettes about the choreography of filming races, a conversation with Penny Chenery, and an audio commentary by director Randall Wallace.