Racing Stripes (2005)

An abandoned zebra (voice of Frankie Muniz) grows up believing he is a racehorse, and, with the help of his barnyard friends and a teenage girl (Hayden Panettiere), sets out to achieve his dream of racing with thoroughbreds.

Director:

Frederik Du Chau

Writers:

David Schmidt (story), Steven P. Wegner (story),

Stars:

Bruce Greenwood, Frankie Muniz, Snoop Dogg

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Greenwood	...	Nolan Walsh
Hayden Panettiere	...	Channing Walsh
Caspar Poyck	...	Mailman
Gary Bullock	...	John Cooper
Wendie Malick	...	Clara Dalrymple
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Woodzie
Thandi Puren	...	Reporter #1
Morne Visser	...	Reporter #2
Dawn Matthews	...	Reporter #3
Matt Stern	...	Reporter #4
John Lesley	...	Paddock Boss
Graeme Hawkins	...	Track Announcer
Tarryn Meaker	...	Anthem Singer
Frankie Muniz	...	Stripes (voice)
Mandy Moore	...	Sandy (voice)

Storyline

In the middle of a raging thunderstorm, a traveling circus accidentally leaves behind some very precious cargo--a baby zebra. The gangly little foal is rescued by horse farmer Nolan Walsh, who takes him home to his young daughter Channing. Once a champion thoroughbred trainer, Walsh has given up horse training for a quiet life with Channing on their modest Kentucky farm. The little zebra, or "Stripes," as Channing calls him, is soon introduced to the farm's misfit troupe of barnyard residents, led by a cranky Shetland Pony named Tucker and Franny, a wise old goat who keeps the family in line. The group is joined by Goose, a deranged big-city pelican who's hiding out in the sticks until the heat dies down in Jersey. The un-aptly named bloodhound Lightening keeps a lazy eye on goings-on at the farm - in between naps. The Walsh farm borders the Turfway Racetrack, where highly skilled thoroughbreds compete for horse racing's top honor, the ultra-prestigious Kentucky Crown. From the first ...

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Plot Keywords:

horse | farm | zebra | racehorse | kentucky | 

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Taglines:

Kiss my tail!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild crude humor and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Central Partnership [ru] Official site [uk]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Zig Zag, l'étalon zébré

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$154,370 (Hong Kong) (19 August 2005)

Gross:

$321,559 (Hong Kong) (2 September 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alcon Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Shetland pony, Tucker (Dustin Hoffman), had to be painted brown during filming because his real coat turned gray. Everyone was so surprised, but the animal trainers did a little touch-up with brown dye.

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Goofs

After Channing got out of the car after arguing with her dad, she clicks to Stripes who makes a cantering hoofbeat sound, but when viewed, Stripes is still trotting, then canters.

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Quotes

Goose: You ever try swimming in cement horseshoes.

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Crazy Credits

The Alcon logo stretches into a stripe which becomes stripes on a zebra which becomes branches of a tree in the first scene and the movie begins.

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Movie Beatdown: Half Past Dead 2 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"My Girl"
Written by Smokey Robinson
Performed by Steve Harvey

User Reviews

Surprisingly good

This started in Australia early, so my partner and I went to see it for a change of pace. Expectations weren't what you would call high (this is the home of Babe after all), but we both enjoyed it quite a bit.

The film is well put together, visually it's attractive, earthy, and the horses used are stunning -- any horse lovers will adore the movie, despite the main character being a Zebra.

Actually, Stripes himself is overshadowed by some of the excellent supports, including Hoffman's unappreciated pony and Pantoliano's gangster Pelican called "Goose" (a very funny role). One exception is Snoop Dogg's Basset Hound -- a waste of time, really. Then there are the horseflies, Spade and Harvey -- some of their jokes are dated (an M.C. Hammer gag in 2005???), but they're usually a high point.

The human characters were well cast -- Bruce Greenwood gives a very down to earth performance and is totally believable as a mourning farmer. Hayden Panettiere is a standout, look for big things from her in the future. I remember her as Will Patton's mini-coach daughter in Remember The Titans -- she's grown up with a great look and fine acting.

Direction is fine, the effects of animals talking, etc are all well done. Story is basic, but I guess that's what you want in a family film. Funny animals, good values/morals -- definitely worth watching.