'Return to Snowy River' (PG)

There's probably more dialogue in a Roy Rogers menu than in all of "Return to Snowy River." It's a horse opera, dadgummit. And horses don't talk much.

Although it's set on the Australian frontier, this hard-ridden sequel to "The Man From Snowy River" is a saddle sore American western, a cliche' from the days when men were men and women were "high-steppin' fillies." The strong-willed heroine, Jessica (Sigrid Thornton), is potentially a fine mare, declares her snotty suitor Alistair (Nicholas Eadie), who comes between Jessica and the man she loves -- the man from (where else?) Snowy River.

Tom Burlinson is back in the saddle again, reprising his role as the handsome buckaroo Jim Craig. Three years ago, Jim rode off to find his fortune, and now he's back with a herd of horses, intending to renew his romance with Jessica. Jessica's father (Brian Dennehy), a crusty rancher, opposes the match, and Alistair will stop at nothing to keep the lovers apart. Their romance exacerbates a feud between the gentry and the rugged horse breeders in the hills.

And some hills they are, too -- magnificent blue mountains rolling like a rumpled quilt down to the valley, where another herd of wild horses roams. "Return to Snowy River" is nothing if not scenic. It's so picturesque, in fact, that it's more of a scenic overlook than a movie. The leading lovers pose often before the same mountain view. So does the lead stallion, no doubt thinking of his mares and their nickers.

Jim and Jessica are a dull pair of stereotypes acted without any giddyap-and-go. Burlinson is attractive and can jerk a tear with some help from a dead horse. But Thornton, reprising her role as Jessica, is of the Ally Sheedy school. Dennehy overpowers them both; his larger-than-life paunch and natural big guy's presence simply push his way into a scene.

Geoff Burrowes, who produced "Snowy I," follows the herd instinct in his directorial debut. It's enough to bring out the neigh-sayer in anybody.