Who doesn't like or respect a good 'underdog' film? We've seen many of them i.e. "American Underdog", "Invincible", "Rudy", "Seabuscuit", "42", plus many others. "The Last Rodeo" is certainly the quintessential underdog film if ever seen, and probably the most incredible comeback movie released in some time. 

To save his grandson, Cody Wainwright (Graham Harvey), a retired three time rodeo star, Joe Wainwright (Neal McDonough) decides to enter a high-stakes bull-riding competition in order to help finance a delicate brain surgery his grandson must endure. Along the way, through his friend Charlie Williams (Mykelti Williamson) and his daughter, Sally Wainwright (Sarah Jones), he confronts his past, discovers faith, and proves that true courage lives in family.

Others to round out the past are Christopher McDonald as Jimmy Mack, Daylon Ray Swearingen as Billy Hamilton, Irene Bedard as Agisa Williams, Matt West as Carl Thompson, Clint Adkins as commentator Bryan Buck, Gabriel Sousa as Marco Lockwood, Kamen Kasey as Cooper Duke, Ruve McDpnough as Rose Wainwright, Kaden Taylor as Dee Jones as Brook Banks as Vicky.

This was directed with compassion, passion and heart by Jon Avnet ("Between Two Women" (TV movie) '86, "Fried Green Tomatoes" '91, "The War" '94, Up Close & Personal" '96, "Red Corner" '97, "Uprising" (TV movie) '01, "Conviction" (TV movie) '05, "88 Minutes" '07, "Righteous Kill" '08, "Bunker Hill" (TV movie) '09,"Three Christs" '17) plus other TV movies, TV and a video. The way these actors came across in a way that didn't depend on sentimentality and leaned much more on realism was not only effective acting, but directing as well. It could've became maudlin and wallow in sentiment, but one felt that they had to be watching real people in real situations. It was effectively written by Jon Avnet, Neal McDonough and Derek Presley. I'm not sure why Presley was listed last in the writing billing, him having more experience, except that since Avnet directed the film and McDonough starred in it could've been a weighing factor. As with the directing, this writing didn't become bogged down with sentimentality which created realism. It was sequenced well, and paced and staged well. There were, however, a couple of places of slowness and choppiness, but not enough to detract from the intensity of the story. It was well cast, especially that of McDonough in the starring role. He came across as a character, although was obviously beyond his prime, but was still believable in convincing the audience that he could possibly pull this off. 

If you like rodeo films, you will revel with this.There are real bull riders who had roles in this. as well. Also, this being produced by Angel Studios ("Sound of Freedom", "Sight"), it simply made this viewing more real and meaningful. We need more studios like Angel that are willing to produce more wholesome, good, faith based films instead of those that are riddled with gratuitous violence, sex and 4-letter words. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                        Rated: PG                                       116mins.