Secretariat - Blu-ray Review

Secretariat tells the exciting and inspirational true story of a remarkable horse and his determined owner. Together, the two made history, and the movie serves to move and inspire audiences with a family film full of opportunities for great family discussions. Bonus features on the Blu-ray edition give viewers an even better look at the real Secretariat and owner Penny Chenery.

A fabulous and inspiring family film, Secretariat is a solid edition to any Blu-ray library. The movie itself inspires viewers with the story of Triple Crown winner Secretariat and his amazing owner Penny Chenery. While the horse's feat is undeniably remarkable, it is Penny's unwavering belief in her own decisions and the will to strive for a goal no matter what the opposition that gives spirit and heart to the story.

The story of Penny, her amazing team, and the horse that brought them together provides family entertainment with a lot of opportunity for discussion about the historical time period as well as values such as integrity, determination, and self-confidence. Kids from about ages 9 and up can appreciate the story and enjoy following the events that lead to a remarkable record that is yet to be broken.

Because the movie is based on a true story, the bonus features give viewers a unique opportunity to learn about the actual history of the event and horse racing in general. The interview with the real Penny Chenery is quite fascinating, as is learning about Secretariat and the edge he had over other horses. Penny's fearlessness serves as a great inspiration for all who hear her story. However, viewers who are truly interested in the true story should read the Secretariat book by William Knack, because as is to be expected with a movie, there are many parts of the story that have been left out.

A Note to Parents: Secretariat is rated PG, for brief mild language. The movie also contains some scenes that may be sad or unsettling to young children. Penny's mother passes away, and later her father as well. She grieves for her parents, some of the funeral is shown, and her father is shown prior to his passing failing in body and mind and saddened by the death of his wife. Also, there is some tension between Penny and her husband when she decides to take on the endeavor of owning Secretariat. Her new responsibilities take time away from her family, which is hard on all of them. Other horse owners sometimes insult or say degrading/condescending things to Penny because she is a woman.

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.