Where the Red Fern Grows
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Movie Reviews of Where the Red Fern Grows
Movie Review: Good Effort, but Book is Better
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a good dvd for a remarkable book that will pull at your heartstrings. A good remake of the film version that will make you want to read the book. It's too bad this film did not make it to the theaters and went straight to dvd. The classic story of a boy and his beloved dog should have been released. Solid storyline with lots of emotional impact, great for family. At least the dvd will get more people to read the book. Hurray for Disney and other studios/filmmakers who care enough about books to bring it to screen.Movie Review: Got to love those dogs
Summary: 4 Stars
While a few scenes could have been better this movie is high on the list for my video collection. You have got to love those red dogs I feel they were the real stars with an outstanding supporting cast . I have read the book, have copies of the original and even part II ( should have left it in the store ) I have watched this new version of the movie several times since my purchase in December and plan on watching it a few hundred times more before it goes on the shelf.Movie Review: Where the Red Fern Grows
Summary: 4 Stars
The book by the same title was a reading requirement for my children when they were growing up. The movie is very touching and has good lessons in perservering and forgiving.Movie Review: Good but not for weeuns
Summary: 4 Stars
Good flick, well-done for a movie of this genre. It does have the death of a young boy in it, which may not be suitable for kids under 8 or so.Movie Review: Fair Remake
Summary: 3 Stars
I liked this movie for several reasons, though I am unable to tell you that this movie is even above average. This movie contains a solid flavor of the Midwest and the settings look very real and appropriate. The dogs were appropriately charming and the scenes with the cougar were excellent. I thought Joseph Ashton, Dabney Coleman and Ned Beatty all did a nice job in their roles. Unfortunately, the script had weak moments and the movie was filled with singers pretending to be actors.
We open this movie with a significantly older Billy Coleman (Kris Kristofferson) telling us about dogs and leading us into the depression in the Ozark region of Oklahoma. Young Billy Coleman (Ashton) has a powerful desire to own coon dogs, and he works and saves until he has the money to buy a pair of coon dog pups.
Brief aside: Dave Matthews plays Will Coleman, Billy's dad, and Renee Faia plays Jenny Coleman, Billy's mom. Unfortunately, several other actors in this movie, particularly the raccoons, the dogs and probably the cougar exceed the acting abilities of both singers. Every time Jenny Coleman came on the screen I cringed (though she is quite pretty). Dave Matthews should stick with singing rock music and avoid roles like this.
Ignoring the fill-in parents, Billy has a lot of fun training his pups to be champion coon dogs, aided by Grandpa (Dabney Coleman) and tolerated by just about everyone else. The next thing you know we have bets and competitions and run-ins with mysterious raccoons and the local neighborhood no-goods. The heart of this movie will always be the dogs and the boy who loves them. I am unable to say much more without giving away the ending, but I have to tell you that I was on the verge of tears at the end.
This movie has lots of stuff going for it. The animals are great, Joseph Ashton is a natural as Billy, Dabney Coleman and Ned Beatty know their stuff, and even Kris Kristofferson, who usually has the acting range of a fern, did a fine job. The scene where a young boy dies is excellent, even if it was a bit shocking and disturbing. The animal trainers really knew what they were doing and the scenes involving the animals were either charming or poignant. The scenery in Oklahoma was excellent and reminded me again of how beautiful the Ozarks are.
Unfortunately, many of the supporting actors did a lot of standing or had vague expressions on their face and made me wonder why they were even required in the movie at all. Alternating between the more powerful performances in the film and the weaker performances was disconcerting at best, and disappointing at most.
I still give this film a positive recommendation because the film captures the essence of Wilson Rawls's book. I loved Joseph Ashton and his dogs. I also enjoyed the extras, which included a making of feature showing Joseph Ashton talking with three of the animal trainers and hearing explanations of how some of the scenes were filmed. Another feature featured an interview with Wilson Rawls's widow Sophie along with local residents in Oklahoma and cast members.
Enjoy!