Fresh Horses (1988)

**_A college guy meets a rural redhead near the Ohio River in the Cincinnati area_**

This isn’t an amusing teen flick like those three movies Molly Ringwald was known for from 1984-1986. It’s more of a mature drama with a young cast that explores romantic entanglements and the ripple effect they have on friends and so forth. “Less Than Zero” from the year prior is a good comparison because both include Andrew McCarthy as the protagonist, yet this one isn’t hampered by the glumness of drug addiction.

The focus is on a real love connection between two young people who might not be mature enough to handle such a dynamic attraction. As the story proceeds, we plainly observe Matt Larkin’s flaws, as well as Jewel’s issues. Do these personal defects mean they don’t really love each other?

Other than the superb locations and fall/winter setting, bits of greatness occasionally manifest, such as Jewel’s secret place where she goes for solitary reflection, Jean’s revelational comments to Molly about the latter’s relationship with Matt, Sproles’ brimming charisma (Doug Hutchison), and the unpredictable confrontation Matt has with Green (Viggo Mortensen).

It’s also interesting seeing Ben Stiller when he was so young; he happened to turn 22 during shooting. Speaking of which, you’ll likely be surprised by the familiar faces you’ll see, such as Marita Geraghty as Maureen, who you might remember as Margaret from Seinfeld six years later.

Lastly, Molly never tripped my trigger in her earlier films, but she really blossomed into a beauty by the time this was made.

It runs 1h 43m and was shot in Nov-Jan 1987-1988 in the Cincinnati area of Ohio (Kings Island and Monroe) and across the River in Kentucky (Boone County and Cambell County), as well as Switzerland County, Indiana, which is to the southwest.

GRADE: B