FlickaMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Flicka."

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 57 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
7 OK for kids 7+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 90
    Variety | Todd McCarthy

    It's not really either an animal or a kids' film but rather a young adult drama that rings emotionally true. Read full review

  • 80
    Washington Post | Stephen Hunter

    So those seeking a softer approach to the realities of both child- and animal-rearing should search elsewhere. The rest of us, meanwhile, are free to enjoy a well-made family drama pitched to young adults that's honest, tough and surprisingly engaging. Read full review

  • 75
    Boston Globe | Wesley Morris

    The best parts of Flicka are its pinch-me optimism and its old-fashioned-movie flourishes. Read full review

  • 67
    Entertainment Weekly | Scott Brown

    As for our heroine (Lohman), her archetypal struggle with crusty Pa (uncrusty Tim McGraw) feels attitude-heavy and life-lesson-light. Read full review

  • 63
    New York Daily News | Elizabeth Weitzman

    With some movies, you know exactly what you're going to see before you even enter the theater, and Michael Mayer's Flicka is one of them: You've got your girl, you've got your horse, and you've got your strict father trying to keep them apart. Read full review

  • 60
    The New York Times | Manohla Dargis

    An entertainingly ridiculous update of Mary O'Hara's 1941 children's novel, "My Friend Flicka." Read full review

  • 50
    The Hollywood Reporter | Michael Rechtshaffen

    A thoroughly uninspiring drama that ultimately buckles under Michael Mayer's weighty direction. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Peter Hartlaub

    There are some nice moments and beautiful scenery, but the film is often slow and the dialogue is overwrought. Read full review

  • 38
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Carrie Rickey

    If all you ask of a movie is that it have scenic stars and some scenery (here the Sierras of California substitute for the Rockies of Wyoming), then Flicka is adequate. Me, I expected some conflict, some resolution, and a horse that took me on a wild ride. This one really never gets out of the gate. Read full review

  • 20
    Austin Chronicle |

    No doubt the most devoted horse lovers in the tween set will get their fill, but parents should sneak out for a very long popcorn break. Read full review

View more reviews for Flicka on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 7+ Classic book gallops to the big screen.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that despite a few corny lines, this is a wholesome family movie with heart that's guaranteed to appeal to horse-loving kids. Although Katy's rebellious nature is at the core of the story (which is based on the classic kids' novel My Friend Flicka), there are consequences to her actions, and her family comes together at the end and learns to communicate in a respectful way. There are refreshingly few references to sex (it is an animal movie, after all), and few instances of crude or cringe-worthy behavior.
  • Families can talk about the best way to communicate. Is it better to get things out in the open instead of letting them fester? Why?
  • Why is it important to see other people for who they truly are, rather than what you want them to be. Also, should Katy have adopted the wild horse against her father's wishes?
  • How could she have handled her rebellious nature in a more respectful manner?
  • Why was it so important for her father to try to save the ranch?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages:  The movie has some good lessons about respect, obedience, and family expectations.
  • rolemodels true3 Positive role models: Katy is rebellious and disobedient for most of the film, but her actions have consequences.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence and scariness: A girl falls from a horse, causing injuries and bruises; a horse is attacked by a wild animal, and blood is shown.
  • sex false0 Sexy stuff: Not an issue
  • language false3 Language: Pretty mild: "Damn," "hell," "bitch," "ass," "frickin'."
  • consumerism false3 Consumerism: Budweiser, Ford
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some drinking and smoking in a bar scene.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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