Virginia’s Run (Pan & Scan/MGM)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Film: C

 

 

A very simple children’s film production also aimed at young adults, Virginia’s Run (2002) is about the title character (Lindze Letherman) forbidden to ride horses, but intending to become the greatest rider in the world.  It is predictable, safe, and lucky to have Gabriel Byrne, Joanne Whalley and Thomas Gibson on board.  Peter Markle co-wrote and directed the film that wants to sometimes be shades of The Black Stallion or National Velvet, but is somewhere in between those films and endless straight-to-video product about young people and horses.

 

The hour, 45 minutes-long piece might hold the attention spans of some young adults and children, but a PG rating does not mean it has to be dull or have limited excitement.  We also do not learn enough about horses, or these characters to keep things going.  That it is as consistent as it is makes it better than schlock and the film never gets very sappy, surprisingly.  Yes, there are still appeals to pity, melodrama and the boyfriend who shows up to inevitably compete, but the coming-of-age parts have some dignity to them.  Though far from the best title in the children’s market, you could still do much worse.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is a pan & scan (or even tunnel vision) version of the original 1.66 – 1.85 X 1 aspect ratio, riddled with Video Black trouble and phony color reproduction.  I doubt this is doing justice to Joel L. Ransom’s cinematography.  The sound is Dolby Digital 5.1, but you can hear how very flat and monophonic the dialogue recording was.  There are no extras, but this basic disc reminds us that the children’s market still has a way to go in development, no matter how much money it seems to be pulling in.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo