Spirit Untamed Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A city kid gets sent to the Wild West, befriends a horse named Spirit (who maybe isn’t *the* Spirit?), and teams up with two other horse girls to stop some bad guys from putting wild horses on a boat, mostly by being really stubborn and using apples.

🍿 Spirit Untamed: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Leaving the City Behind

Fortuna Esperanza “Lucky” Navarro-Prescott lives a sheltered life in a city on the east coast with her Aunt Cora and politician grandfather. After a mischievous incident disrupts her grandfather’s campaign party, Lucky is sent to the rustic frontier town of Miradero to live with her estranged father, Jim Prescott, for the summer. This move marks a significant shift from her privileged upbringing.

A Special Connection with Spirit

On the train ride to Miradero, Lucky spots a wild mustang running alongside. Upon arrival, she sees the same horse being roughly handled by a wrangler named Hendricks. Despite her father Jim’s reluctance due to her mother’s fatal horse accident, Lucky feels a strong connection to the horse, whom she names Spirit. With the help of local friends Pru Granger and Abigail Stone, Lucky begins to earn Spirit’s trust, using apples to form a bond.

The Wranglers’ Plan

Lucky’s bond with Spirit grows, but her attempt to ride him leads to a dangerous incident. Jim scolds her for her recklessness, causing further friction between them. Sneaking out, Lucky finds Spirit and his herd, only to witness Hendricks and his men capturing them. Realizing the wranglers plan to transport the horses by train to be sold and worked to death, Lucky resolves to help Spirit rescue his family.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced): A spirited young girl who moves to the frontier town of Miradero and forms an unbreakable bond with a wild mustang named Spirit.
• Spirit (Gary A. Hecker): A wild mustang stallion whose strong connection with Lucky drives their adventure to rescue his captured herd.
• Hendricks (Walton Goggins): A cruel wrangler and outlaw who captures wild horses, serving as the main antagonist threatening Spirit and his herd.
• Prudence Granger (Marsai Martin): One of Lucky’s new friends in Miradero who is a skilled equestrian and joins the rescue mission.
• Abigail Stone (Mckenna Grace): Another of Lucky’s new friends who is cheerful, optimistic, and accompanies Lucky and Pru on their quest.
• Jim Prescott (Jake Gyllenhaal): Lucky’s distant father who lives in Miradero and is initially hesitant about her riding horses due to a past family tragedy.
• Cora Prescott (Julianne Moore): Lucky’s aunt who brings her to Miradero to reunite with her father and provides guidance and support.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Lucky Prescott: “He’s like me… untamed.” – Lucky says this upon seeing Spirit, recognizing a kinship with the wild mustang.
• Jim Prescott: “I don’t want you to get hurt like she did.” – Jim expresses his fear to Lucky, linking her interest in horses to the tragic death of her mother.
• Abigail Stone: “We’re PALS! Pru, Abigail, Lucky, Spirit!” – Abigail enthusiastically creates an acronym for the group as they embark on their adventure.
• Lucky Prescott: “Go. Be free.” – Lucky says this as she makes the difficult decision to release Spirit back into the wild with his herd.
• Lucky Prescott: “This is where I belong.” – Lucky realizes her true home is with her father and friends in Miradero, rather than returning to the city.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $30,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $17,716,215
• Worldwide Gross: $42,717,215

💥 Spirit Untamed Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into Spirit Untamed hoping for some of that magic from the original ‘Stallion of the Cimarron’, but honestly, it’s just… different. It feels much more geared towards the younger fans of the Netflix show. I really liked the scenes where Lucky tries to earn Spirit’s trust with the apple. It’s a classic horse movie trope but still sweet. The animation is decent, especially the landscapes, but it doesn’t have that unique, hand-drawn feel that made the first movie special. The story is pretty straightforward – save the horses, stop the bad guys – nothing too complicated. The trio of girls is fun together, and their friendship is the highlight for me. Seeing them go on their little adventure felt like something out of a kids’ book, which is fitting. If you have a kid who loves the show or just loves horses, they’ll probably enjoy it. Just don’t expect it to be a deep, spiritual sequel to the original; it’s a lot tamer.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Children, especially young girls”
  • “Horse lovers”
  • “Fans of the ‘Spirit Riding Free’ Netflix series”
  • “Families looking for a simple animated adventure”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Adventure action and peril (horses being captured, dangerous journey)”
  • “Themes of loss (Lucky’s mother’s death is mentioned)”
  • “Mild conflict with villains (horse wranglers)”

Professional Reviews

• Synthesized Review: “Spirit Untamed feels more like an extended TV episode than a feature film. While the animation is pleasant, it lacks the depth and visual flair of DreamWorks’ best. The story is predictable and largely rehashes the series’ beginning, offering little new for fans. Voice acting is serviceable but doesn’t quite land, with some finding it phoned-in. It’s simple, sweet, and fine for very young children who love horses, but adults or fans of the original 2002 film will likely find it shallow and disappointing.
• Synthesized Review: “A visually appealing, if somewhat generic, horse adventure. Spirit Untamed delivers exactly what its target audience wants: girls on horses, adventure, and a simple story of friendship and bravery. While it doesn’t live up to the artistic legacy of the original ‘Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,’ it provides enough action and heartwarming moments to keep young viewers entertained for its under-90-minute runtime. The adult characters are a bit weak, but the central trio has charm.

Audience Reactions

Kids who love the Netflix show or horses were often captivated.: The movie is visually pleasant, easy to follow, and features cute animals and relatable young girl characters.

Many viewers appreciated the themes of friendship, bravery, and family bonding.: The adventure elements and the bond between Lucky and Spirit resonated well with the intended young audience.

Overall Consensus: A straightforward, family-friendly animated adventure enjoyed by young children and fans of the TV series, but often found disappointing and uninspired by adults and fans of the original 2002 film.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This film is the first theatrically released animated movie based on a Netflix series, but was made without direct involvement from Netflix.”
• “Jake Gyllenhaal, Julianne Moore, and Walton Goggins all made their animated feature film debuts in this movie.”
• “The film includes a dedication to Kelly Asbury, who directed the original ‘Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron’ and passed away in 2020.”
• “Professional voice artist Gary A. Hecker provided the vocalizations for the horses in the film.”

🖥️ How to Watch Spirit Untamed?

Looking to watch ‘Spirit Untamed’? This animated adventure is often available for digital purchase or rental on major platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies & TV. You may also find it streaming on services that feature Universal Pictures or DreamWorks Animation films; check platforms like Peacock for availability. Keep an eye out for it on other subscription services as distribution rights change over time.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Spirit Untamed, you might like these similar films:

• Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002): This is the original film that the franchise is based on, focusing on the mustang Spirit’s journey and encounters with humans.
• How to Train Your Dragon (2010): Features a strong bond between a human protagonist and a wild, misunderstood animal, challenging societal norms and expectations.
• The Land Before Time (1988): Follows a group of young, diverse characters embarking on a perilous journey together, highlighting themes of friendship, courage, and finding home.
• An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991): An animated film set in the American West, featuring animal characters, a journey plot, and themes of family and adventure in a frontier setting.
• The Black Stallion (1979): A classic live-action film widely acclaimed for its beautiful portrayal of the bond between a boy and a wild horse after a shipwreck.

🛒 Spirit Untamed Related Products

• Spirit Untamed Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Code: Own the adventure with stunning high-definition picture and sound. Includes digital copy for streaming on the go.
• Spirit Untamed Lucky & Spirit Doll and Horse Playset: Bring the movie magic home with poseable Lucky doll and her loyal mustang, Spirit, complete with riding accessories.
• Spirit Riding Free: The Adventure Begins (Netflix Series DVD): Watch the first season of the Netflix series that inspired the movie, delving deeper into Lucky, Spirit, and their friends’ origins.
• Spirit Untamed Horse Adventure Game (Console/PC Download): Embark on your own riding adventure in the world of Miradero, customizing your horse and completing quests.

🎧 Soundtrack

Spirit Untamed features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Fearless” – performed by Amie Doherty
• “Be Fearless, Fortuna!” – performed by Amie Doherty

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Meet the Horse that Inspired Spirit! | SPIRIT UNTAMED

Curious about the real horse behind the animated star? Check out this cool video where the director meets the actual magnificent creature that inspired the character of Spirit!

✨ Rate