In \u201cThe Last Rodeo,\u201d 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 \u2013 especially since Joe\u2019s rodeo career ended with a neck-breaking accident that resulted her becoming his caretaker in the years before he regained his health.
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After Cody sustains a head injury while playing baseball, a medical exam reveals he has brain cancer. Sal\u2019s 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 \u2013 and as luck would have it, a championship tournament with a huge cash prize is coming up in Tulsa.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, \u201cThe Last Rodeo\u201d doesn\u2019t serve out-of-nowhere surprises. But the film is crisply directed by Jon Avnet (of \u201cFried Green Tomatoes\u201d 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\u2019s faith-focused rodeo partner and Christopher McDonald as the tournament manager who okays Joe\u2019s participation despite serious reservations.<\/p>\n
It is somewhat daring that an under-the-radar, family friendly drama like \u201cThe Last Rodeo\u201d would open theatrically against big-budget features like \u201cMission: Impossible \u2013 The Final Reckoning\u201d and \u201cLilo & Stitch.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n