Nico the Unicorn

With a disabled leg, a deceased father, and status as the new boy in a small Vermont town, 12-year-old Billy has the proverbial three strikes against him. But things start to turn around when his waitress mom (the saintly Anne Archer) allows him to keep a scraggly pony he rescues from a con artist. And when the pony gives birth to a unicorn, and a pretty local girl assists Billy with the birth, things seem to be seriously looking up. But some nasty classmates discover their secret and soon everyone from police on horseback to news helicopters to the armed charlatan are chasing Billy and Nico up into the mountains. This fairly tale for grade schoolers has some real suspense and a magical ending that isn't too sentimental. Mom has a cop love interest (Michael Ontkean), but they keep it pretty tame. The mother pony does give her life to protect the foal; however, the carnage occurs off screen. This 95-minute film will most interest children 5-10 years of age, although true horse/unicorn lovers up to age 13 may enjoy it as well. --Kimberly Heinrichs Amazon.com

Family Jewel

After the huge disappointment of "The Little Unicorn", I was rather wary of picking up a "family" unicorn film, but this film proved truly pleasing to the heart. "Nico" not only has sympathetic characters, but gorgeous scenery, a striking unicorn, and a moving message. Billy Hastings is a young boy who has coped with not only the loss of his father, but a crippled leg from the accident that killed him. His heart, however, is completely whole and he proves this when he saves a poor battered circus pony from a cruel master. The pony, after being restored by Billy and his mother's kindness, gives birth to a baby unicorn. When the unicorn, Nico, grows into a gorgeous adult, his existence is soon discovered and released to the press by a group of greedy kids. When Billy resolves to take Nico up a mountain to freedom, both their lives are put on the line as the race for freedom begins. If you assume that there are some corny moments in the film, you'd be right. However, the corniness is actually minimum and the film is truly moving. One of my favorite parts was getting a glimpse into the unicorn's world, an achingly gorgeous paradise scene that I hadn't been expecting. All the actors, including the beautiful Anne Archer, do great jobs. Parents, as a few people have pointed out, there is a disturbing scene where Nico's sweet mother is fatally attacked by a mountain lion. A few have called this scene not very disturbing, but it certainly rattled me (even though I was expecting it) and I have no doubt kids could be bothered by it too. I was surprised by one person's comment that it's no big deal because all it shows is the pony with several cuts on her. Um, that's still disturbing, as the "cuts" were large wounds that the pony was bleeding profusely from; plus, it does show the mountain lion bite her hard at one point. I don't want to dissuade parents from letting kids see it by any means; just please watch with your kids. Recommended! June 22, 2006

Wonderful for Children

I happened upon this show while at home one day. I thought that the show would be wonderful for my 8 yr old granddaughter. I am still looking for the video to purchase. September 27, 2003

Fantastic video for any age

I enjoyed this video so much. Second time around enjoyed it even more. What a wonderful story for young and old alike. I am a 68 year old woman and cannot tell you how much pleasure I received from watching this video. In fact I enjoyed it so much I am purchasing it for my grand daughter so we can watch it together when I visit her. Nico the Unicorn gave me much pleasure and I am sure Emily will also enjoy watching it with her family. March 27, 2003

An older lady enjoyed it too!

I am a 57 yr old lady, and I've enjoyed this movie several times on tv. Everyone else has said what the movie's about, but that its mostly for kids. If you're young at heart and enjoy a movie just for the sake of watching a movie and dont judge so hard, maybe you'll love it too like I have and will continue to everytime it comes on...well now I ordered the movie too. March 22, 2003

MUST SEE

Many people say the scene where the pony dies is scary for little kids. For those of you worried, all it shows it the pony running around with many cuts. It never shows her die.
Many people say that older kids won't enjoy it. I'm 14 and watch it at least once every day! Honest. I own a pony named after Nico, because she looks so simular to the star when he was born.
If you haven't seen this movie then you should, you won't be sorry. It is about a boy with a dead father and a crippled leg who rescues a pony that gives birth to a unicorn. Younger kids will enjoy the story, while older kids will also relate to the star, Billy, played by Air Bud and Virginia's Run's Kevin Zegers.
I said it before and I'll say it again: Nico The Unicorn is a must see! December 30, 2002

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