In “The Last Rodeo,” Neal McDonough stars as Joe Wainwright, a retired rodeo champion in his fifties who works as a blacksmith in a small Texas town. A widower, Joe wants his grandson Cody (Graham Cody) to follow him in bull riding, but his daughter Sal (Sarah Jones) is opposed – especially since Joe’s rodeo career ended with a neck-breaking accident that resulted her becoming his caretaker in the years before he regained his health.
After Cody sustains a head injury while playing baseball, a medical exam reveals he has brain cancer. Sal’s insurance will only cover less than half of the costs for his life-saving surgery. The only way Sal can raise funds quickly is to return to the rodeo circuit – and as luck would have it, a championship tournament with a huge cash prize is coming up in Tulsa.
Admittedly, “The Last Rodeo” doesn’t serve out-of-nowhere surprises. But the film is crisply directed by Jon Avnet (of “Fried Green Tomatoes” fame) and McDonough (who produced and co-wrote the film) recalls the cowboy stars of yesteryear with his solid, no-nonsense presence. Charming supporting performances are provided by Mykelti Williams as Joe’s faith-focused rodeo partner and Christopher McDonald as the tournament manager who okays Joe’s participation despite serious reservations.
It is somewhat daring that an under-the-radar, family friendly drama like “The Last Rodeo” would open theatrically against big-budget features like “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “Lilo & Stitch.” But perhaps the filmmakers, like their central character, have no fear in taking on difficult challenges. For those who want an alternative to reruns and remakes, this feel-good film is a nice surprise to find in the holiday weekend theaters.