Horses, Dogs, and 1930s Serial Logic

Is this for you?

If you like old-school serials where the plot moves like a caffeinated squirrel, you might dig The Adventures of Rex and Rinty. If you prefer movies that actually make sense, or you get bored by constant brawls and horse trotting, steer clear.

It’s a 12-chapter ride. That is a lot of horse and dog content, even for someone like me who usually loves animal stars. Rex is billed as the King of the Wild Horses, and man, they really lean into the 'God-Horse' thing. It feels like someone watched The Idol Dancer and thought, 'Yeah, but what if the idol was a pony?'

The Logic of the Trail

The transition from a mystical island to a polo field in the US is handled with the grace of a sledgehammer. Rex just... shows up. Then he runs away. The human actors are mostly there to point at things and look concerned while Rex and Rinty do the heavy lifting.

There is a scene around chapter four where Rex just stands there looking majestic while the camera lingers for about thirty seconds too long. It starts to feel like he’s judging my life choices. I am not even kidding, he looks bored.

Oddly Specific Notes

• The dust. There is so much dust in these outdoor shots. You can practically taste the grit through the screen.
• Rin-Tin-Tin, Jr. is a professional. That dog knows exactly where the light is.
• The natives on Sujan change their minds about the horse faster than I change my mind about what to have for dinner.
• The editing feels like they used a pair of rusty garden shears.

Watching this reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Jungle Jitters, but with more polo mallets. It’s not exactly high art, and the 'sacrifice' plotline gets repetitive by the time you hit the halfway point. You just know Rex is going to be saved at the very last second.

Spoiler alert: He is. Every single time.

I found myself wondering if anyone on set actually knew how to play polo or if they just liked the costumes. There is a lot of standing around in riding gear. It’s charming in a weird, dusty, 1930s way, but don’t expect a masterpiece. It’s just a horse and a dog doing their best in a world that doesn't really know what to do with them. 🐎🐕