If there's one thing I missed about cinemagoing during the pandemic, it was not the hustle and bustle of the latest blockbuster screening, the dark auditoriums projecting the latest horror film on the big screen, or even the sweet smell of cinema popcorn wafting through the air. No, my heart has ached most for the midday matinees of the latest silver pound-targeted drama. Indeed, the baffled stare from Jean and the slightly fearful glance from her friend Betty as I - what they would consider a "youth" - quietly sneaks in with my iced latte in hand eager to find a seat three rows from the front is something I have sorely, sorely missed. But thankfully, with cinemas almost completely reopened and the release schedule slowly returning to a pre-pandemic sense of normality, the more senior members of society and I are being welcomed back from our quarantines by those older-skewing dramas that make you laugh, cry and leave with a slight spring in your step as the credits roll.
Euros Lyn's Dream Horse tells the true story of a Welsh village who, led by Janet (Toni Collette), raise a racehorse named Dream to compete alongside the racing elite, becoming a beacon of hope for their struggling community. Also starring Damian Lewis, the comedy-drama was one of the first casualties of the pandemic, just weeks away from release when the country went into lockdown. Is it worth racing back out to see?
Exactly the film you are expecting to be, Dream Horse is a familiar yet warm motion picture that may just be the easy viewing you need to settle yourself back into the moviegoing routine. Hitting unchallenging but well-executed emotional beats, Neil McKay's screenplay maintains the light, comedic, feel-good energy that allow these films to thrive amongst its target audience, while going somewhat deeper to explore themes of class, opportunity and hope. Lyn's direction creates a real sense of community, making the dynamic between the individuals that make up the Dream syndicate central to our understanding and support of their community -- you want them to succeed every step of the way. It's too long, coming in at 113 minutes, but it rarely drags too noticeably.
Adding another string to her bow, Toni Collette is as reliable as ever playing Jan Vokes. Decent welsh accent in tow, Collette leads the cast convincingly, pouring her heart and soul into a role that may seem beneath her when you consider the calibre of her career; never does that concern translate on to the screen though, with a sincerity to her performance that elevates the film considerably. Surrounding her, the supporting cast all do a capable job of capturing this eclectic community.
Excessively sentimental and undoubtedly predictable, Dream Horse is by no means a revolutionary film but firmly understands what its audience wants and delivers it with confidence and cheer. "Formulaic" is often thrown around as an insult, and in some instances is a warranted criticism, but as we head out into a new world, a safe and unchallenging comfort like a small Welsh village raising a racehorse as a symbol of their community falls on the right side of charmingly familiar.