By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Brent Hodge
Country: canada, new_zealand, united_states
Year: 2014
Running time: 89
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3219678/combined
Michael says: “I’ve been watching a bunch of 2014 films on DVD or streaming this past week or so in preparation for nominations. I’m planning on doing a quick round-up of these films soon, but this latest film is the first that I had to sit down immediately and share my thoughts. A BRONY TALE is documentary by filmmaker Brent Hodge. For those of you who don’t know, Bronies are fans of the animated television show, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic who also happen to be predominantly male, and between the ages of 14 and 57. Yes, it’s true. I’ve seen the show, and I’m married to a Brony — although by all statistical count, my husband is in the 1% of Bronies who are gay. As this doc shows, most of them are straight males.
“The hook for this doc is Ashleigh Bell, a Canadian-based voice-over artist who contributes the voices to two of the Ponies on the show, Rainbow Dash and Applejack. While Hodge takes us around the country to meet a diverse groups of bronies, Ashleigh ponders an invitation to NYC to Bronycon – the major fan convention for Bronies. She’s hesitant… uncertain what the experience will be like. Unlike Bronies, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is a job to Ashleigh. Her true passion is singing with her band, Hey Ocean… she has no idea that she is now part of a phenomenon. She would if she could watch the interviews with all the Bronies Hodge meets on his tour across America. There is the Brony DJ, the manliest Brony in the world, the psychologist who studies Bronies, the weight-lifting Bronie, the Sounthern California Brony Meet-up group, and most affecting, the Military Bronies, represented by a truly beautiful soul, Bryan. Bryan’s story is so beautiful, and just so touching, and exemplifies everything that My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic represents.
“Now, it’s not a perfect film. Some of the scenes involving Ashleigh feel a little staged or forced, although she’s generally charming enough to pull them off. And the pair of married psychologists seem a little too goofy to take seriously, but the interviews of Bronies are wonderful and Hodge definitely has a great eye and good storytelling instincts. To hear all these people talk about their love of a television show about five girl ponies with magical powers is to spend 78 minute surrounded by joy and love. I highly recommend this film, but have the Kleenex ready… you just might find yourself weeping. 4.5 cats”