Nico the Unicorn VHS   Director Graeme Campbell 


GREAT MOVIE for the Family 

With a disabled leg, a deceased father, and status as the new boy in a small Vermont town, 12-year-old Billy has the proverbial three strikes against him. But things start to turn around when his waitress mom (the saintly Anne Archer) allows him to keep a scraggly pony he rescues from a con artist. And when the pony gives birth to a unicorn, and a pretty local girl assists Billy with the birth, things seem to be seriously looking up. But some nasty classmates discover their secret and soon everyone from police on horseback to news helicopters to the armed charlatan are chasing Billy and Nico up into the mountains. This fairly tale for grade schoolers has some real suspense and a magical ending that isn't too sentimental. Mom has a cop love interest (Michael Ontkean), but they keep it pretty tame. The mother pony does give her life to protect the foal; however, the carnage occurs off screen. This 95-minute film will most interest children 5-10 years of age, although true horse/unicorn lovers up to age 13 may enjoy it as well.