SPIRIT UNTAMED

US, 2021, 88 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Isabela Merced, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marsai Martin, Mckenna Grace, Julianne Moore, Walton Coggins, Eliza Gonzalez, Andre Braugher.

Directed by Elaine Bogan, Ennio Torresan.

As the title indicates, this is quite a spirited animated entertainment, suitable for family watching.

It has been a long time since the first film featuring Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002). But, the television series has kept alive the story of Spirit. It is enjoyable to continue the narrative (which does go back to some of the television episodes).

We are introduced to Lucky Prescott (voiced vigorously by Isabela Merced) , a young girl even more spirited than the stallions racing through the countryside. We also see something of her mother, in a flashback, a champion at rodeos, skilled in show-riding horses, sadly dying in an accident. Lucky is looked after by her (initially) rather prim aunt, Cora (Julianne Moore). Lucky gets into all kinds of mischief, getting into the most awkward situations, quite unrepentant - ruining her grandfather’s campaign to be Governor. She and Cora are to go out to the West, for the summer vacation, to meet her father whom she has not seen for years, railroad engineer, still grieving for his wife.

Looking out the train window, she sees Spirit and the other stallions, delighted, full of glee, barging through the carriages to get to the back, mayhem on the train, rescued by a tough hombre (who turns out to be the villain, leader of a group of bank robbers who plan to rustle the stallions).

But this is the story is of Lucky and Spirit, her learning to tame him, the bond between them, some exciting and dangerous rides, the pursuit of the rustlers, a death-defying trip through high-peak mountains and a precariously dangerous ridge… But, Lucky is not alone. She has to great friends her own age, Prue and Abigail, who share her adventure to rescue the stolen stallions.

This is very much a film for the female audience – perhaps one thinks of the word feminist! The three young girls are tough, can survive in the West, bond together (and an inter-racial friendship). In fact, the men don’t really get much of a look in! Lucky is father, Jim (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a rather soft and protective father, in the background. There is a young boy who gets up to mischief and rides and obstinate little donkey. Prue’s father is sympathetic managing the corral. But the villains are all those tough men. If it has been felt in the past that women have been relegated to subordinate roles secondary roles in westerns, Spirit Untamed certainly makes up for it, the men definitely subordinate.

The animation is vivid, the locations beautiful and arresting, the racing of the horses exhilarating, all on a big wide screen.

The target audience is the pre—teen children’s audience, especially girls. While young boys watching the film might feel of the outer, parents will probably enjoy it.

1. The spirit of the sequel, the impact of the original film, the television series? Revisiting? The target audience, young children, families, especially young girls?
2. The animation style, the backgrounds, the city, the view from the train, the West, the open spaces, the mountains, the Bridge, the port? The musical score?
3. Lucky, age, background, memories of her mother and her riding, the absence of her father, care by And Cora, her grandfather and his politics, her being mischievous, curious, ruining the campaign launch? Cora trying to keep her out of trouble?
4. The trip to the west, Lucky and her attitude torture absent father? Mischief on the train? Seeing the horses, barging through the carriages, at the back, reaching out, Hendrix rescuing her? And the irony of Hendrix and his role in rustling the horses?
5. Her father, his grief, the railroads, working on the engine? His response to Lucky?
6. Lucky, seeing Spirit from the train, seeing him again, the treatment, her approach to him, the apples? Her friendship with Prue, Prue and her verve? Abigail, lively? The little brother and his writing the donkey, mischief? Lucky and her taming of Spirit?
7. Hendrix, his cronies, robbing banks, the decision to take the horses? The roundup, taking the train, the escape? Planning to sell?
8. Lucky, the memories of her mother, the visuals of her mother and riding, the sadness of her death? Lucky and a clash with her father, not talking to him?
9. The ride on Spirit, loose, into the mountains, leaving the chasms? The girls in pursuit?
10. Lucky, the discovery of the taking of the horses, her decision to pursue, with the girls, the map, the plan, the mountains, the dangerous ridge, arriving at the port, the rustlers already there?
11. Jim, the train, Prue’s father and the corral, arriving at the port?
12. The action at the port, Hendrix and Cora, the horses, Lucky liberating them? The fights? And Cora even hitting one? The happy resolution?
13. The emphasis on girls and women and their presence in the West, contrasting with past films? The men in subordinate roles?