Film Review — Dream Horse
Despite an abundance of cliche, this fact-based against-the-odds equine underdog tale delivers on the feel-good front.
Dream Horse is typical of a particular kind of British feel-good film with roots in the traditions of every from Ealing comedies to more recent underdog stories such as The Full Monty, Brassed Off, Calendar Girls, and Military Wives. Based on a true story, the drama concerns small-town Welsh shop assistant Jan Vokes (Toni Colette), whose life of routine drudgery is given a shot in the arm when she forms a local syndicate to breed and train a racehorse.
Colette is excellent in the lead, with a spot-on Welsh accent. Damian Lewis provides admirable support as Howard Davies, a man whose previous involvement in a racing syndicate almost cost him his house and marriage. Elsewhere Owen Teale is splendid as Jan’s self-loathing but supportive husband Brian. The other colourful members of the syndicate add plenty of character, as our working-class heroes go up against the toffs at the races to suitably outrageous effect. An agreeably snooty Peter Davison pops up as rival racehorse owner Lord Avery, but a more sympathetic wealthy character is found in Nicholas Farrell’s horse trainer Philip Hobbs.
