A Horse Called Bear

A Horse Called Bear" has some really sweet and poignant plot twists near the end. Another horse movie that's not really about a horse, but about redemptive relationships between family members and toward God.

About a teen, Ethan Riley, played by the "highly likeable" Nicholas Ryan Gibbs (to quote the Dennis Quaid ads), who loses his mom and goes to live with grandparents he doesn't really know too well. There is also an art sub-theme where the little artist, played by Austin Farnsworth, makes an amazing sacrifice out of love for God, to help the hurting Ethan (that's the part that made me cry, the sweet, generous, loving children and how they helped Ethan, it's really amazing).

The turning point comes when the pastor, played by Ryan-Iver Klann, who is also "highly likeable" in this role, when he speaks words of encouragement to Ethan, which helps for reconciliation and healing of the broken relationships. And opens the door to faith and restoration.

The little children are ADORABLE in this, so cute, they are absolute scene-stealers, especially at the end, when you see what they do, a sweet act of selflessness, to help the hurting Ethan.

Kristina Kaylen looks beautiful and warm as Ethan's friend and horse trainer, as does Heather Fairbanks, as the mother of the children who befriend and pray for Ethan and another hurting little girl.

Having watched "Courageous Love," also with Kristina Kaylen and Jared James Withrow, it was interesting to see Jared cast as the bad guy this time. The gentleman who played Ethan's grandfather, Wayne E. Brown, it was also nice to see his healing, spiritually and emotionally, and relationally, at the end.

I hope Penni makes a sequel, it would be interesting to see the "highly likeable" Nicholas Ryan Albert Gibbs et al, coming back from college and seeing the relationships develop.