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Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005)

tomatometer

64

Average Rating: 6.3/10
Reviews Counted: 116
Fresh: 74 | Rotten: 42

Though formulaic, this horse story's saving grace is its strong performances.

59

Average Rating: 6.1/10
Critic Reviews: 29
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 12

Though formulaic, this horse story's saving grace is its strong performances.

audience

74

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 88,857

My Rating

Movie Info

A man and his young daughter face almost impossible odds as they struggle to help an injured horse return to the racetrack in this family-friendly drama. Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a horse trainer whose career has gone into a bit of a slump, and after years as his own boss, he's signed on to work for Palmer (David Morse), a breeder whose wealth and success has given him a certain degree of arrogance. While Ben has learned to keep his mouth shut around his boss, he forgets himself when one of

PG, 1 hr. 38 min.

Drama, Kids & Family

John Gatins

Mar 21, 2006

$33.0M

Dreamworks

Cast

All Critics (124) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (77) | Rotten (42) | DVD (10)

A great family film.

October 24, 2005 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | Comment
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

For family audiences seeking easy assurance, moral certitude and, of course, moving scenes of a gorgeous, galloping horse.

October 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
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As a sports drama -- a genre that's gotten entirely too much play lately -- Dreamer is singularly unexciting.

October 21, 2005 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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It's to Fanning's and Russell's credit, and the filmmakers', that the formula never gets the better of the film.

October 21, 2005 Comment
Philadelphia Inquirer
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Too obvious, too trite and too sentimental to ever be more than Seabiscuit for tweens.

October 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | Comment
Orlando Sentinel
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There's nothing particularly inspired about the film.

October 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | Comment
Newark Star-Ledger
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Heartwarming kids' movie starring Dakota Fanning and a racehorse.

July 10, 2008 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

All the characters are familiar, the story is familiar, but it is well-constructed and the actors do a good job with the material.

December 30, 2006 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | Comment
Laramie Movie Scope

Dreamer is loaded with enough clichés and formulas to choke a horse. But truly, it works.

September 22, 2006 Comment

It is a movie that will captivate children, yes, but it will also capture the hearts of the grown-ups, too.

March 31, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | Comment
DVDTalk.com

simply feels more professional than most family fare

March 27, 2006 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

Like the horse in the title, Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story starts quickly out of the gate, gets lame and plodding, but recovers in time to finish strong.

March 21, 2006 Comment
Reel.com

Screenwriting manuals have taught us that every film is (or should be) a Hero's Journey, but writer-director John Gatins takes that gospel so literally it's hard to know whether to admire his purity or marvel at his lack of imagination.

March 4, 2006 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | Comment
Urban Cinefile

The charismatic Fanning proves she is the best child actress in decades.

December 11, 2005 Full Review | Comment (1)
Video-Reviewmaster.com

A quiet and poignant story.

December 9, 2005 Full Review | Comment
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

Sure, it's as goopy as Kris Kristofferson is grizzled, but families might find a genuinely warm experience in the simple story of a child following her heart %u2014 especially in the rare moments when we're not told how to feel.

November 21, 2005 Comment
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

This is a slow track of wish-fullfillment fantasy and all who come through the turnstiles will wear a happy face.

November 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | Comment
Cinema Signals
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

dreams can come true

March 19, 2010
erika250
erika bruhns

Super Reviewer

Very good movie. I watched this movie with my bff and I loved it!!! :)

January 23, 2010
movieguru12
Cassie Hill

Super Reviewer

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