Grit, Family, and Desperation are the three words that repeatedly come to mind when watching Director Jake Allyn's Ride. Three generations of Championship bull riders in Stephenville Texas battle themselves and each other as they all do anything they can to raise money to get John Hawkins' (C. Thomas Howell) daughter Virginia (Zia Carlock) to a better cancer hospital. Addiction plays a major part in the proceedings. Granddad Al ( Forrie J. Smith) had a major alcohol addiction that almost ruined his bull riding career. That addiction skipped a generation to Grandson Peter played by Director Jake Allyn as at the film's opening he is released from prison having served for years for vehicular homicide causing the death of a young local girl with Virgina in the car at the time.
John and his wife Monica (Annabeth Gish) get the news that Virginia is not coming home as expected but, an open spot is available at a leading oncology centre that will be costly with 40K needed upfront. John tells Monica he will handle it mainly by obtaining his part-time teaching pension early. He also overturns every loose asset and loan he possibly can think of to raise funds. When his early application for his pension is denied the level of desperation increases as the facility begins to show signs that they will not hold the spot for Virginia much longer. Fresh out of jail Peter has slipped back into old habits. He's hooked up with his old cellmate Tyler (Patrick Murphy) using again and promising his yet unearned winnings from a local P.B.R. contest as payment for Oxy.
C Thomas Howell is almost unrecognizable as John Hawkins. Especially if you have not seen him for a while and still picture him from his peak days in the early eighties The Outsiders, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. and the underrated Red Dawn era. He's a dad that will go to any lengths for his daughter. The director disappears into the role of Peter. He's an addict who has let himself, his family, and his community down and deeply wants to redeem himself. Only his Granddad Al and younger sister Virgina are unconditionally in his corner. His Dad is so opposed to him that he throws a generous gesture to help out the fundraising efforts back in his face. When a final last-ditch effort is proposed by Peter to John the elder sees no other option but to take it. It's a major step outside the law that results in even bigger one. The job of investigating the aftermath falls to Monica, who is the local Sheriff and her eager Deputy Ross Dickons (Scott Reeves) who has a thing for Monica, has never liked Peter, and doesn't care much for John.
Ride is at its' heart a story about family. Built on four pillars that span three generations who are all in very different places when this family crisis arises. Annabelle Gish is perhaps the most conflicted as family matriarch Monica. Her eldest son just spent four years in jail where she never visited him. Her only daughter may die if she can't get into the new treatment centre and she's leading a major police investigation where she may have to pick her family over her career. Writer -Director Jake Allyn has crafted a simple straight ahead yet compelling story that I can recommend.
***1/2 Out of Four.
Ride | Jake Allyn | U.S.A. | 2024 | 114 Minutes.
Tags: Cancer, Bull Riding, Rodeo Clown, Addiction, Ex-Con, Robbery, Homicide, Stephenville Texas, Champion Bull Rider. Unicorn.
