Really liked the premise of the movie. Fun watching my dog get excited when the zebra was running on the screen!

A story about a lost zebra being raised by a legendary race horse trainer (Nolan Walsh) and his daughter (Channing) following some years after a racetrack accident causing the death of her mother and drove Nolan into retirement. But the zebra had a love for running and a high volt competitive heart. The other figures are a Shetland pony (Tucker, a goat (Fran), a Pelican (goose) a rooster (Reggie), 2 flies, (Buzz and Scuz), and Stripes' love interest horse,Sandy. There are also a host of other characters. Special effects were great as each animal was trained to do the things that were needed for the movie and with computer technology caused the screen images of the animals to appear to really talk. The work here was simply without equal. The plot centers on bringing the trainer (and Tucker)out of retirement to train Stripes for the Kentucky Open, a race for the best of the best. Dalrymple Stables had dominated the race for some time while Walsh was the trainer there. The animals seeing that Channing also loved to race saw that Nolan's fear of training horses after the accident extended to fear of letting Channing grow up. They set out to and did succeed in jarring Nolan into snapping out of it - and so the training of Stripes began to prepare him for the Kentucky Open as a challenger to the prohibitively favored Dalrymple entry, Trenton's Pride. Race day has some consisitency issues. Huge race but WalMArt parking lot set. The broadcasting voices were too hard to hear and reporters missed the bigger story - Nolan Walsh, ex-Dalrymple Trainer, out of retirement to train a ZEBRA to be ridden against Nolan's ex-employer, Dalrymple, by Channing Walsh, daughter of the trainer and also daughter of a champion female jockey of note. This latter connection was missed ENTIRELY by the background audio broadcast reporters (it would NEVER be missed). Stripes wins the big race, beating Pride, and they become friends. Sir Trenton, Pride's father and the villain of the movie, had kept them from a decent relationaship that you sense both Stripes and Pride wanted. Lots more to this movie and it is chock full of very good character lessons. For example, None of the Trenton line of champions had ever bothered to thank Tucker for helping to train them. Stripes in a moving moment broke from the winner's circle and humbly shrugged the collar of roses that was given to him onto Tuckers's shoulders and he was then took Tucker into the winner's circle with him. The human actors were all brilliant and the great actresses of today had better watch out for Hayden Pannetiere who was stunning. I am not a big Whoopie Goldberg fan but as Fran she was absolutely amazing. Same can be said of Dustin Hoffman who was well-matched to Whoopi. One of the few top family movies ever. Its complexity and quality surprised me as much as the more violent Kevin Costner's The Bodyguard. I bought several of each from Amazon. Stripes is the movie of champions!

Loved it!

This movie is great for kids of all ages, and the humor is age appropriate.

I allowed my 4th graders to watch this movie as a treat and they thoroughly enjoyed it!
They even collectively cheered for Stripes at the end. We had discussion about doing the "right" things and how helping others can help you! There are a lot of character building discussion learning points throughout the movie. It's entertaining learning! A couple of bad words, but nothing really major!

In a video world rampant with cartoons, kid-toons,and some difficult-to-fathom videos geared to amuse (??), Racing Stripes is a hilarious, so very refreshing and entertaining story that will amuse adults and kids alike. Carrying a subliminal message that "different" is not at all a bad thing to be and using live animals (not pen and ink caracatures), you will meet some loveable and personable characters. You will find yourself laughing out loud at a misguided pelican with a New Jersey accent and anxiously cheering on that sweet little zebra who has the biggest heart ever to just keep trying in his quest to become what he repeatedly is told he can never be: a racehorse! "Young people" of all ages will get a dose of vitamins and energy for their inner child by enjoying this movie. It does have a few small "schmaltzy" moments, but the story and the celebrity voices of the characters are so mezmerizing that, try as you might, you can't help getting lost in the tale! Truly a movie that will brighten the gloomiest of people!!! It's infectuous!!

Great movie for any age

Have watched this movie on and off for years -- as a kid and now as a college kid! Seriously, don't pass this zebra up. This is movie filled with laughs and sweet memories of growing up on a farm with my sister. Go ahead and watch it...you'll love it.