As films go this one lacks in several areas, especially dialog and acting, which is sometimes incompetent. But you can't discover fault with the family story, revolving around a young teen woman who is different, including her first name "Moondance." Kay Panabaker is Moondance. Her father passed away not long ago but she still had her artist mama Gelsey, played well by 40-something Lori Loughlin. By her own admission, Moondance has couple of, if any, good friends since fellow students make fun of her name and the way she dresses. The motion picture begins on the last day of school as summer break starts.
She has a little task, using her bike to make small bundle deliveries in the backwoods surrounding her home (recorded in the Canadian Rockies and surrounding locations). One day, riding along a dirt roadway, a Pinto horse appears in front of her, evidently jumping the fence. We later on discover this is a practice of the Pinto, whom she names "Checkers", and this later can be found in helpful in a jumping competitors.
As it turns out the horse is not lost, however is owned by Don Johnson as Dante, a male of gruff demeanor and couple of words. We later find out he had actually been a horse trainer but something happened and he had actually quit. Moondance doesn't want to be separated from Checkers, so she bargains to work complimentary, starting at 6:30 AM every day, cleaning up stalls, etc and in return she gets to ride Checkers.
It is tough to figure why skater Sasha Cohen has a role, except it seems she has acting aspirations. Here she is Fiona Hughes, a nasty and self-centered woman who won the Junior leaping champion last year, and who takes every opportunity to attempt and put Moondance down. There is no subtlety to her acting.
Overall a good family movie, with a good message, and no bad language, no sex, no violence. We need more motion pictures with those qualities.
SPOILERS: Dante consents to assist Moondance and Checkers prepare yourself for the yearly jumping competitors. But he cautions her not to get her hopes up. But they do well, Click to find out more have a perfect flight, and end up co-champions with the mean Fiona. Showing that "different" can be great under the best conditions.