'Dreamer' isn't so special, but it's star is

A Kentucky horse farm in autumn is always a splendid way to start a movie, and so it is with "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story." Though generally a formulaic girl-and-her-horse movie, the picture stands out from others of its ilk thanks to a remarkable performance by Dakota Fanning.

DreamWorks SKG 'Dreamer' B- The verdict: Dream child Dakota Fanning's remarkable performance takes this otherwise formulaic family film to a whole other level. Director: John Gatins Starring: Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Kris Kristofferson, Elisabeth Shue, Freddy Rodriguez Run time: 98 minutes Release date: Oct. 21, 2005 Rating: PG for brief mild language. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Dreamer'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

The horse is a filly named Sonador (Spanish for "dreamer"), but the real dreamer here is Cale Crane (Fanning), whose father, Ben (Kurt Russell), now trains horses for someone else, rather than his own. When Sonador breaks her leg in a race, her owner wants her put down, but Ben refuses. Instead, he quits and takes the animal as part of his severance pay. He figures her breeding alone justifies trying to save her as a broodmare, but his daughter has other dreams. Winner's circle dreams.

Essentially, "Dreamer" is the story of how a broken-down thoroughbred brings some broken-down people back together. Like a junior "Seabiscuit," but more family-oriented in terms of audience and theme.

Sonador's rehabilitation not only strengthens the bond between Cale and her often preoccupied father (in the opening scene, he tries to sneak off for an early-morning work-out without her, only to find her standing by his truck, waiting for him). The process also draws Ben closer to his wife (Elisabeth Shue), who sometimes feels shut out, and his estranged father (Kris Kristofferson), who blames him for selling off chunks of the farm to pay their debts. In other words, one healing process leads to another.

Writer-director John Gatins captures the essence of a crisp, early-dawn workout, the snuffly coziness of a barn, the backstretch bustle. In a way, he's created a movie in which Russell should feel right at home.The picture often evokes a Disney movie from the late '60s and early '70s, when Russell was a staple of the Magic Kingdom's stable of kid stars.

"Dreamer" has an innocence, a golly-gee forthrightness. At times, too much so. Well-acted pablum is still pablum.

But that's where Fanning comes in. Her movie isn't all that special, but she is, whether she's sharing a Popsicle with Sonador or confronting her father when he's too ready to quit. Technically, she's still a child star. What she really is is a star. Period.