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Dakota Fanning kindles what little fire burns in 'Dreamer'

So insistent that you know it is based in fact, Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story actually tacks that information onto its title.

DreamWorks SKG 'Dreamer' C The verdict: Fact-based family film feels synthetic, except for Fanning. 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

Writer-director John Gatins takes major liberties with the story of Mariah's Storm, a real-life racehorse who made a miraculous comeback in the early '90s after a crippling injury. He turns it into a family-friendly film about a little girl and the horse she loves, which would probably be going direct-to-video if not for the presence of Dakota Fanning.

Cale Crane (Fanning) is the daughter of a equine trainer (Kurt Russell) who works for a rich, unfriendly stable owner (David Morse, who might as well be twirling his mustache). When a promising filly named Sonador — Spanish for "dreamer" — breaks her leg in a race and Russell refuses the order to put the animal down, he loses his job and takes the horse as part of his severence. With Cale calling the shots, a recuperated Sonador trains again and gets entered in the Breeders Cup.

Kids may buy the tale, but their parents are likely to have their exaggeration-detecting antennae up pretty early. Gatins did gather an impressive cast, including Kris Kristofferson as Cale's grizzled grandpa and Elisabeth Shue as her mother.

All of this is saved by Fanning, whose ability to cry on cue and act naturally is sorely tested by this material, but emerges triumphant nevertheless.