"Secretariat" isn't one such experience. It's not earth-shattering or life-defining. But it is smart, sweet and successful; a competent cinematic achievement that, given all the negative economic news out there, is a welcome escape into a world where goodness begets goodness and where good cheer goes a long way.

It's a crowd pleaser if I've ever seen one.

The film is based on the true story of the 1973 Triple Crown winner - a horse named Big Red who was raced under the name Secretariat by his owner Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) and horse trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich). Secretariat became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and stamped his place as one of the greatest race horses of all time.

More than a winner, Secretariat was also an inspirer; he won over legions of fans, and captured the public imagination. He was a hero for his time, lightning in a bottle, and more than anything, director Randall Wallace captures that sense of unpredictable energy. For a hero who galvanized a nation, this is a worthy life story.

Actually two life stories. For not only is Secretariat the star of the film, but the tale details Penny Chenery's family life and her family's farm. She has an amazing drive when it comes to things she is passionate about - like keeping her family's farm even when the funds are low and to continue to make a name for her family by racing horses.

When one very special horse is born, Big Red, Chenery realizes that she may have just found the greatest race horse of all time.

The emotional core of the drama revolves around Penny's existence. At first we are saddened by the passing of Penny's mother and her father coming down with a severe illness. Then we are filled with hope when she bonds with her father's secretary, Miss Ham (Margo Martindale), and the two of them set out to keep the family farm afloat.

That hope becomes thrilling when Big Red starts racing, turning the heads of racing pros. And as the nation rises to its feet, we feel the tingles of electricity. Even though most of us already knew the story of the Triple Crown winning horse, as well as his place in history, we become enraptured in the human spirits that soared on his back - the earnestness with which Chenery kept the family dream alive and Secretariat on the race track.

With an animal as the central star, there's only so many human heartstrings that can be pulled. But "Secretariat" does its best to help us see the way that Secretariat was the product of love that surrounded him, and that he was a source of inspiration for so many others.

It's a tale about a hero, yes, but more importantly a story about the coming together of a most unlikely Secretariat community.

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