3 Reasons ‘The Last Rodeo’ Will Rope You In

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1. It's a Celebration of Heartland Values

McDonough and his wife Ruve produced The Last Rodeo through their studio, The McDonough Company, out of a desire to celebrate the American heartland.

"Hollywood's kind of lost its way a bit with -- and I'm guilty of it myself, being part of some pretty dark films at times -- I think they forgot to talk about what America really is and the values that America has in the films that they make. And we want to get back to that," he told Crosswalk. "And I think we did."

Set in Texas and Oklahoma, the film showcases the beauty of the heartland with scenes of horseback rides set against lush valleys, roaming steer and winding rivers -- and drives the point home later as Joe and his partner, Charlie Williams, enjoy a pickup truck road trip through hundreds of miles across the panhandle to Tulsa, as both gaze out the window at the landscape -- wind farms, dusty plains, and small-town Americana. We even see a big American flag waving on a digital billboard along the highway.

Joe and his daughter have leaned on each other for years -- his wife passing years earlier and Cody's father not in the picture.

The film's plot echoes that of boxing legend George Foreman but with a far more personal tragedy sparking Joe's comeback. He starts working out with pushups and sit-ups, jumping on a mechanical bull only to get quickly knocked off. He soon realizes he needs a partner from yesterday -- Charlie, portrayed by Mykelti Williamson of Forrest Gump fame -- to help. Charlie takes a week off work to assist, even though he's fearful his friend won't survive. 

"You could get yourself killed," Charlie tells him.

Photo Credit: ©Angel

2. It's Rooted in Family, Sacrifice and Reconciliation

There's no trace of selfishness in The Last Rodeo. Charlie uses his vacation days at work to benefit his friend, knowing he won't get them back -- and may not even see Joe succeed. Joe sacrifices his pride and comfort -- all for an expensive surgery that offers no guarantees. We learn that Sally, too, once stepped in selflessly, feeding and bathing him the day of her prom after he broke his neck in a devastating bull-riding accident.

"You will not get on that bull," she tells him, adamant that they will find another way to pay the bills. In the end, though, she realizes her words are powerless.

The death of Joe's wife, combined with his past battle with alcohol addiction, has forged a divide between him and Sally that runs deep. They talk and they function as a team -- but for the first half of the film, there's a quiet divide between the two. Yet before the credits roll, they begin to heal.

Joe enters the PBR Legends Championship, which will place him against riders 30 years his junior. Initially, these younger riders assume he's on location to sign autographs as a retired legend. Once they realize he's actually in the competition, though, a few of them laugh in disbelief. "This ain't the Senior Circuit," one of them quips.

The filmmakers smartly explain the basics of bull riding to moviegoers, realizing the sport is foreign and, unlike football or basketball, most viewers have little clue how it works. (The goal, if you're an amateur like me, is to stay on the bull for eight seconds.) More significantly, though, the bull riding looks and feels realistic, adding authenticity. 

Photo Credit: ©Angel

3. It's Faith-Adjacent

The Last Rodeo doesn't shy away from faith, even if it's not the primary focus. Bitter at God for his wife's death and his grandson's medical trial, Joe is slowly transformed through the testimony of the rough-edged Charlie, who unashamedly reads his Bible as the two fall asleep under the starry skies of Tulsa in the bed of a pickup truck. (To save money, of course.) Charlie challenges Joe, acknowledging that his friend is "mad at Him up there" but reminding Joe that God has "given you more than most." He reads Joe a verse telling him that God "gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." The film also offers a couple of moments of prayer -- including once prior to the rodeo competition.

The film includes minor language (details below), a couple of bar scenes, and a fight (a short-tempered Joe punches a younger rider who sits in his seat and refuses to move).

Overall, The Last Rodeo is an inspiring original story with grit and heart and powerful performances from McDonough and Williamson. Like nearly every Angel Studios film, it's a solid addition to an ever-expanding library of uplifting content. 

Rated PG for thematic elements, language and violence. Coarse language: a-- (5), h-ll (7), d--n (4).

Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars. 
Family-friendly rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Discussion questions for families: 

• What does the film teach us about sacrificial love -- and how does that reflect the teachings of Scripture? 
• What role does forgiveness play in the story? 
• What does the film teach us about friendship?

Photo Credit: ©Angel