Dream Horse (2020)

(On Cable TV, February 2022) While Dream Horse ends up being a very familiar, suspiciously contrived feel-good comedy, I frankly expected something much duller. Hurrah for low expectations, I guess—but those expectations were set by an underwhelming opening sequence in which we’re stuck in a small English town alongside a protagonist going through the repetitive motions of a boring life. Her job is unfulfilling, yet still more interesting than her marriage. The town is sleepy and the neighbours are dull. The spark comes as she hears about a racing horse syndicate—the idea being to sell shares into a racehorse, and hopefully benefit from its winnings. Before long, a large cast of eccentric characters joins in, the mare gives birth to a promising foal and (time-skipping forward to the good parts) the horse starts winning race after race. Dream Horse is adapted from a true story, but the dramatization dictates that something bad is about to happen and indeed we’re soon asked to consider whether the injured horse should be put out of his misery. They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? this isn’t, though, as the third act goes for a comforting arc that sees everyone get some money and the horse retire quietly to the good pasture. Toni Colette is the anchor here, as the godmother of the syndicate and the one who experiences the most personal growth along the way. There’s something a bit weird and convenient is showcasing a story about winning against incredible odds without spending much time talking about those odds—as if anyone could come up with a race-winning foal, and find contentment in winning money (recast as “being part of something great” and “finding fulfillment in life”) from gambling. But such questions are beyond the intent of Dream Horse, which is meant to make viewers happy without asking too many questions. It does work as such—and as mentioned, I expected much worse. Who doesn’t like a winning horse?