EMMA'S CHANCE

US, 2016, 93 minutes, Colour.
Greer Grammar, Joey Lawrence, Missi Pyle, Christina Robinson, Jennifer Taylor.
Directed by Anna Elizabeth James.

Emma’s Chance is a pleasant film for audiences who love films about horses. It is very much geared to an adolescent female audience who can identify with the central characters at high school and Emma herself. She belongs to a group of high school students in the lighter vein of Mean Girls – and, the leader after being told off by Emma at the end quickly repents and becomes a better person.

Emma is influenced by this group and goes over a fence of a farm for the rehabilitation of horses. She is caught, was potentially harming a horse, is summoned to the principal’s office, given a community service term working for the horses. She is also grounded by her rather protective mother. It all goes as expected, her wanting to get it all over and done with, her becoming more attached to the horse, Chance, learning that the farm could be taken over and sold, bonding with the foreman, Kevin (Joey Lawrence) and the owner (Missy Pyle).

She learns to work fairly quickly, urged on by someone who had been in her situation, Lexi (Christina Robinson), is urged to ride, decides to enter the dressage competition to win money to pay for the farm – which, of course, she does, in a light and minimally demanding way.

Greer Grammar, daughter of Kelsey Grammar, is certainly a pleasant heroine in a pleasant film.

1. The appeal of a film about horses, an adolescent girl learning to love horses, wanting to save the farm?

2. The California settings, the town, homes, the high school, the farm, the paddocks, the stables, the horses? The training for the competition? The competition and hurdles? The musical score?

3. Emma’s story, her age, friends with the girls at school, the touch of Mean Girls? Her mother driving her to school? Jacob and his attentions? Her not responding? Persuaded to go out with the girls, climbing over the gate, disturbing the horse, getting caught, the interview with the principal, the community service, her mother grounding her? And her grandmother reminding her mother about her escapades when young? Her planning to go out with the girls, the friend advising her not to go? Jacob and his wanting the English summaries?

4. Going to work, meeting with Kevin, his friendship and advice? Meeting Lexi, her own situation, the clash? Doing the hard work, cleaning the stables? The collage of the routine, day after day? Attracted to Chance, giving Chance to treat? The growing attachment? The suggestion that she ride, her hesitation?

5. Kevin getting her on the horse, the canter, her being at home with the horse? Seeing the ad for the competition?

6. Susan, owner, bighearted, worried about finance, sales of the paddock? The prospective buyer, the touch of the sinister, the story about his selling horses over the Mexican border? Susan tearing up his cheque?

7. Emma, the decision, the practice, Lexi and her injury? Being ready for the competition, the reconciliation with her friends, everybody present, her mother, Jacob, the girls? The would-be owner’s daughter and her arrogant tone? The competition, Emma’s success?

8. The arrest of the buyer? The cheque saving the farm? Everybody joining in, celebration?

9. The film as a moral fable, criticising the callow and mean life high school students, finding a cause and commitment, and personal transformation?