Rack-Focus

Emma's Chance appears aimed at tween to teenage girls. However, it has broad appeal and works as an educational, family-friendly film on two levels. In the "big picture," the movie sheds light on the 152,000 horses who are killed each year for meat after they are no longer useful to their owners. In the "little picture," children will learn about the tremendous time commitment a horse requires-along with the rewards of bonding to an animal. This movie is a must see for anyone who wants a horse. Red Bucket Equine Rescue, the real-life non-profit that serves as the location for the movie, says 85% of first-time horse owners get rid of their animals within five years. The movie uses Red Bucket to convey its message. Filming took place on the group's ranch in Chino Hills, California. According to its website, all the horses in the movie were rescues, including the star, show jumper "Chance", who was played by four different rescue horses. Actor Missy Pyle portrays real life founder Susan Pierce and actual volunteers filled in as extras. Adults will learn about the crushing financial burden facing Red Bucket and similar charities in need of support. Children will learn about the commitment and rewards of taking care of a horse through Emma (Greer Grammer). This "good girl" agrees to perform community service after falling in with the wrong crowd and soon learns to love horses. At times Emma's Chance feels like an infomercial, much like Apple of My Eye, which used Southeastern Guide Dogs to spotlight guide animals. However, both movies present meaningful messages in a thoughtful and entertaining way. There is nothing offensive in Emma's Chance. Even the "mean girls" are not really mean, just in need of a teachable moment. The movie moves in an uplifting trajectory and mirrors Emma's increasing self-confidence as she tackles the task of caring for a horse. The final scene may sadden some children, but it teaches an important life lesson.

Apple of My Eye is an entertaining and educational look into the world of guide animals. The straight-to-DVD feature ends abruptly. Not cliffhanger-style or in ambiguity, as if asking the audience to ponder a larger truth. The film just ends, like the producers ran out of time or money and never shot the last 20 pages of script. It's no loss. The movie's main conflict-whether Bailey (Avery Arendes) can bond with a guide animal-is over the moment she meets miniature horse Apple. It's love at first sight, and the rest of the movie is spent integrating Apple into the family. Being a family-friendly film, this happens with few hiccups. Apple is adorable, but a one trick pony. Anyone expecting a typical "animal" movie with cute stunts and homewrecking will be disappointed. Apple spends her time (yes, Apple is a filly) walking with Bailey and lying down. She performs one stunt. However, as the movie points out, guide dogs (or horses) are working animals-not pets-and should not be treated as such. Much of the film was shot in cooperation with, and on location at Southeastern Guide Dogs near Tampa, Florida. As a result, Apple of My Eye often feels like a promotional video for the center. That's not bad. The film teaches us a lot about visual impairment, braille, guide animals, their training and their function. The film boasts a veteran cast, led by Burt Reynolds. He plays Charlie, the center's fatherly director. Amy Smart is Bailey's overworked mom Caroline. Liam McIntyre is unemployed dad Jason. AJ Michalka and Jack Griffo are employees, though sadly Michalka is underutilized. Apple of My Eye sheds light on an important issue while slipping a sizeable amount of education into an easy to watch 84-minute package. We never notice we're in school. We're too busy watching the adorable Apple.

If you were a fan of the first Pitch Perfect movie and were disappointed by the bloated sequel, you'll find Pitch Perfect 3 to be acc-awesome. I saw all three movies back-to-back-to-back at the Pitch Perfect Treble feature so I was able to put them into fresh context.

The third chapter gets back to basics and focuses squarely on the core cast, along with Hailee Steinfeld and Chrissie Fit from PP2.

Pitch Perfect always worked best as a "small movie". PP2 made the usual mistake of going big, rather than going deep. The result was needless plot distractions like the Green Bay Packers and Snoop Dogg. Sure, those elements were fun, but they didn't add much. Also gone is the weirdness of PP2, like the Teutonic Das Sound Machine, the Riff Off Host, and jokes about illegal immigrants.

What's left is a much tighter plot featuring the Bellas doing what they do best. My favorite scene in PP3 is the riff off where the group effortlessly segues from song to song. I'm sure it was heavily choreographed and rehearsed, but it seems so natural and reflects a chemistry developed from doing three movies together.

PP3 also avoids the third chapter mistake of trying to cram in everyone who appeared in the earlier features. A lot of the main characters are gone, and the roles of some of the remaining ones - most notably Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins - are diminished to give the Bellas more time. Even the finale, arguably, goes small to focus on the Bellas and their sisterhood.

In the end, this franchise finale is "pitch perfect". To paraphrase Jesse, if you like watching a bunch of girls doing covers of songs one last time, you'll love this movie.

As a final note - PP3 does a nice job closing this chapter of women's lives and also in paying homage to the past movies. Look for references and scenes from the past and enjoy how far these women have come.