It is hard to feel bad for a person when their major worry is whether he or she will get to go back to a private boarding school.

“Flicka” is the story about a girl who, after her school threatens to kick her out, trains a mustang and eventually rides it. From the beginning, it is clear this hour-and-a-half is going to be full of cheesy goodness, melodramatic acting and cliché situations the movie somehow manages to stay somewhat interesting.

If one forgets about most of the plot and just looks at the scenery, the movie is tolerable to watch. Amazing shots of mountains and plains are inserted throughout.

Alison Lohman plays Katy McLaughlin, a high school student in grave danger of not graduating. After continual near-death experiences because of stupid decisions, she is finally rewarded with what she wants. The idea is to make people break out of their complacent surroundings, but the movie continually shows someone getting rewarded for disobeying parents.

After almost dying numerous times because she keeps messing with horses she somehow manages to live. Tim McGraw plays her overbearing father who does not understand where her demeanor comes from. Numerous times throughout the movie he is supposed to instill fear that no one can withstand. But most of the time his expressions of anger could instill laughter.

The movie sticks close the model of a coming of age film with few surprises along the way. “Flicka” has been adapted from a book that concentrates more on life in the west and a young man’s struggle. The movie glosses over many of the most interesting parts of the story and turns it into fluff. It is hard to sympathize with the characters, which makes it hard to become engaged and interested.

This movie is clearly aimed at a family crowd, so unless it’s watched with young children, this movie does not offer much.