Watch Cowboy & Indiana

Cowboy & Indiana is a 2018 film that follows the lives of two best friends, Cowboy and Indiana, as they try to achieve their dreams in the rural town of Pleasant Valley. The movie stars Taylor Girard as Cowboy, the proud owner of a struggling farm, and Lynn Andrews III as Indiana, a charismatic rodeo star with a lot to prove. The film begins with Cowboy struggling to keep his farm afloat while also taking care of his troubled younger sister, April (played by Lainey O'Sullivan). When Indiana comes to town for a rodeo competition, he quickly reconnects with Cowboy, and the two decide to team up and enter the rodeo as a duo. This decision sets off a series of events that forces the friends to confront their pasts and make difficult choices about their futures.

One of the standout aspects of Cowboy & Indiana is the chemistry between its two leads. Girard and Andrews III have a natural rapport that makes it easy to believe in their friendship and root for their success. Additionally, both actors give strong performances that elevate the material beyond its conventional coming-of-age story.

The film also benefits from its rural setting, which gives it a distinct sense of place. Director Rodney Ray captures the beauty and isolation of Pleasant Valley, emphasizing the wide open spaces that both attract and intimidate Cowboy and Indiana. Additionally, the movie is full of small details that reveal the characters' connection to this land, such as Cowboy's careful tending of his farm or Indiana's knowledge of the local rodeo circuit.

At its core, Cowboy & Indiana is a movie about friendship and ambition. Both Cowboy and Indiana have big dreams that they worry are out of reach. Cowboy wants to make a success of his farm and provide for his family, while Indiana wants to prove himself as a rodeo star despite his troubled past. The two men complement each other in their goals, with Cowboy providing a sense of stability and Indiana offering the risk-taking attitude that they need to succeed. However, their close friendship also leads to tensions, as they struggle to balance their individual desires with their commitment to each other.

Throughout the film, Cowboy & Indiana explores themes of identity and legacy. Cowboy is haunted by the failures of his father, who was also a farmer, while Indiana is burdened by his reputation as a troublemaker. As they work towards their goals, both men must grapple with what these legacies mean for them and how they can chart their own paths. This struggle is especially poignant in the case of Indiana, who is trying to break free from a criminal past that threatens to catch up with him.

Despite these weighty themes, Cowboy & Indiana is also a movie with heart and humor. The film is full of moments of levity, such as when the two friends try to train a new horse or when they have a dance-off at a local bar. Additionally, the movie features a strong supporting cast, including Evan Myles Horsley as the town's resident artist and Helena Grace Donald as Indiana's ex-girlfriend. These characters add depth to the world of Pleasant Valley and make it easy to care about the town and its inhabitants.

Overall, Cowboy & Indiana is a well-crafted film that tells a moving story about friendship and ambition in a rural community. While the movie may not break new ground in terms of its genre, it succeeds thanks to its engaging lead performances and evocative sense of place. Recommended for fans of coming-of-age stories, rural dramas, and films that center on strong male friendships.

Cowboy & Indiana is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4.