This film drove me nuts. Granted part of it maybe thatI have a hard time relating to southern culture and southern accents.
The main character of "Madison" is 16 but is written as 13. The actress Dora Madison Burge was 22 at the time of filming. For a 22 year old to be playing a 16 year old is enough of a stretch, but a 16 year old acting like a 13 year old becomes sketch comedy rather than drama.
We get used to older actors. Understandably an 18 or 19 year old will play a 16 or 17 year old in shows and films so production companies don't have to deal with child labor laws - or parents, and their added maturity is obviously an advantage on set, but that much of an age gap is way too much. Five years in teen years and young adult years is huge. Age gaps are routinely used in sketch comedy for humor, but for a film that is trying to be serious it just doesn't work.
I liked the actress in "Cowgirls 'n Angels" so I am sure that it isn't her that I necessarily find so annoying but the writing.
I also didnt care for the grandfather, but I suppose that was the point of the film. I never did get why the grandmother was living some place else.
The plot isn't all together original. It is a cross between "Flicka 2" and "Marley 2." City girl with chip on her shoulder growing up when sent to the sticks - er a rural environment. If anyone has seen "Storm Rider" the storyline is similar as well. Add that to "Marley 2" - two 13 year olds - whose characters are acting like they are 5 - training a dog for a competition.
But yes, it is a good family film with good values. Not enough of those around any longer.
