7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Convinced that her life is over when she's sent to live on a Wyoming horse ranch with her gruff father, urban-bred teen Carrie finds a kindred spirit in the form of a wild mustang horse named Flicka who becomes her constant companion. The more Carrie nurtures Flicka, the more she realizes she hasn't been fair to her father, and begins opening up to him. Meanwhile, as Carrie strikes up a romance with a kindly young cowboy, Flicka's life is threatened by a bitter rival.
Starring: Patrick Warburton, Clint Black, Tammin Sursok, Emily Tennant, Ted WhittallFamily | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
English, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
I didn’t approach the challenge of reviewing the DTV sequel “Flicka 2” as an opportunity to keep up with the now ongoing “Flicka” saga, which kicked off with a 2006 feature film (adapted from the classic novel by Mary O’Hara) starring Alison Lohman. No, I decided to take on the feature as a way to keep up with actor Patrick Warburton, an actor I’ve grown to strangely dislike over the years. He’s a bulky performer with a single comedic speed, yet “Flicka 2” offers the man something different to play for a change, taking command of a hesitant paternal role that doesn’t require the services of his dim-witted butch routine. A-flicka-men.
The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation supports a standard low-budget look, with emphasis on primary colors and bright outdoor glory shots. It's enough to convince, with fresh hues keeping grasslands a lively green, while costuming retains its blue denim and cream hat appeal. Skintones read on the hot side at times, with reddish skin dominating a few interior interactions. Noise is managed comfortably. Shadow detail is satisfactory, finding a pleasing level of detail on Flicka, while evening adventures aren't completely solidified, leaving distances to survey. Fine detail is adequate, sustaining the feel of fabrics and dramatic offerings from the cast, while close-ups carry realistic facial qualities. A small feature like this benefits from an outdoorsy feel, and the gorgeous Canadian locations retain a natural sense of HD energy to lend the production the expanse it can't achieve through screenwriting.
The 5.1 DTS-MA HD sound mix find its most impressive range when detailing scoring cues, which sound big and immersive, utilizing surround placement to sustain dramatic grandeur. Dialogue sounds strong, handed a largely frontal position to anchor personal developments, with voices sounding passably full, while accents are easily inspected. Atmospherics are limited, with rural life handed satisfactory elements of blowing wind and stable commotion, though true directional activity isn't exploited to a consistent degree. The track holds to a melodramatic routine of conflicts and warm resolutions without jarring shifts in audio engagement, making the listening experience acceptable for younger audiences, with emphasis more on the open range liberation of Flicka than a more intricate sonic exploration of home theater intensity.
The world didn't need a "Flicka 2" (heck, there's already a third installment of the franchise, with "Flicka: Country Pride" released in 2012, also directed by Damien) but as useless sequels of questionable artistic merit go, it's not deplorable. Pre-teen girls will adore it, and that's all that really matters.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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