Racing Stripes (2005)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Frederik Du Chau

Writers (WGA):

David Schmidt (story) &
Steven P. Wegner (story) ...

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family | Sport

Tagline:

His stripes made him an outcast. His heart made him a hero.

Plot:

An abandoned zebra (voice of Frankie Muniz) grows up believing he is a racehorse, and, with the help of his barnyard friends and a teenage girl (Hayden Panettiere), sets out to achieve his dream of racing with thoroughbreds.

Plot Keywords:

Horse | Farm | Zebra | Racehorse | Kentucky

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Bruce Greenwood	...	Nolan Walsh
Hayden Panettiere	...	Channing Walsh
Caspar Poyck	...	Mailman
Gary Bullock	...	John Cooper
Wendie Malick	...	Clara Dalrymple
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Woodzie
Thandi Puren	...	Reporter #1
Morne Visser	...	Reporter #2
Dawn Matthews	...	Reporter #3
Matt Stern	...	Reporter #4
John Lesley	...	Paddock Boss
Graeme Hawkins	...	Track Announcer
Tarryn Meaker	...	Anthem Singer
Frankie Muniz	...	Stripes (voice)
Mandy Moore	...	Sandy (voice)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild crude humor and some language.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #41210) | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Ireland:PG | Singapore:G | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:6 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | Sweden:Btl | Mexico:A

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Alcon Entertainment

Trivia:

The Shetland pony, Tucker (Dustin Hofman), had to be painted brown during filming because his real coat turned gray. Everyone was so surprised, but the animal trainers did a little touch-up with brown dye.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Channing first rides the zebra around the track, her braid appears to be very long down her back. In other scenes her braid is not that long.

Quotes:

Goose: Get back here, you chicken! C'mon, I'll fight you with one wing behind my back.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Rocky IV (1985)

Soundtrack:

Walk This Way

Surprisingly good

This started in Australia early, so my partner and I went to see it for a change of pace. Expectations weren't what you would call high (this is the home of Babe after all), but we both enjoyed it quite a bit.

The film is well put together, visually it's attractive, earthy, and the horses used are stunning -- any horse lovers will adore the movie, despite the main character being a Zebra.

Actually, Stripes himself is overshadowed by some of the excellent supports, including Hoffman's unappreciated pony and Pantoliano's gangster Pelican called "Goose" (a very funny role). One exception is Snoop Dogg's Basset Hound -- a waste of time, really. Then there are the horseflies, Spade and Harvey -- some of their jokes are dated (an M.C. Hammer gag in 2005???), but they're usually a high point.

The human characters were well cast -- Bruce Greenwood gives a very down to earth performance and is totally believable as a mourning farmer. Hayden Panettiere is a standout, look for big things from her in the future. I remember her as Will Patton's mini-coach daughter in Remember The Titans -- she's grown up with a great look and fine acting.

Direction is fine, the effects of animals talking, etc are all well done. Story is basic, but I guess that's what you want in a family film. Funny animals, good values/morals -- definitely worth watching.