The Last Rodeo opened to positive reviews on Friday, May 23rd. The film, about an aging former bull-riding champ, stars Neal McDonough, Mykelti Williamson, and Christopher McDonald (of Happy Gilmore fame). It’s produced by Angel Studios and written and directed by Jon Avnet. The film follows character Joe Wainwright’s return to bull riding to help his family out in a time of need.
Neal McDonough as Joe Wainright
In The Last Rodeo, the main character, Joe Wainwright, was a professional rodeo rider for years. He ended up retiring from the rodeo scene after making some bad decisions while drinking. Now he spends time with his family, which includes his daughter and his grandson, Cody. Young Cody loves sports, particularly baseball. When Cody gets injured in baseball, doctors find he has a dire medical condition that requires a lot of money to treat.
Wainwright enters himself in a high-stakes rodeo competition. He calls upon an estranged good friend, played by Mykelti Williamson (of Forrest Gump fame), to help him train. Wainwright will be entering as the oldest rodeo contestant, which provides another risk for him. The movie follows Joe Wainwright’s resolve, medical drama, often taut family relationships, and ultimately Joe’s path to redemption.
Neal McDonough’s Previous Roles
Fans may best remember Neal McDonough as Damien Darhk in DC’s Arrow and from Legends of Tomorrow. Neal has done other work, particularly in roles where he plays an antagonist. Some of his best-known characters are “Dum-Dum” Dugan from the Marvel universe, McNorris from the award-winning Boomtown series, and Jay Hamilton from the 2004 redux movie of Walking Tall, opposite Dwayne Johnson. McDonough has also performed voice work.
The Last Rodeo Reviews
Although mostly formulaic in nature, The Last Rodeo has opened up to positive reviews. Critics have lauded both performances by McDonough and Williamson. It’s considered a family movie, with overtones of forgiveness and faith. It has been said that the movie has a “Yellowstone vibe” – so that will attract a lot of viewers. We hope The Last Rodeo does well in its theatrical release, as we can always use a movie about hope with positive messaging.
