Such a frustrating disappointment

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

This is a story of three animals who become lost and must make their way back home. There is a cat, Sassy, who is mouthy and annoying. Chance, an immature, careless, reckless dog. And Shadow, the mature, well traveled voice of reason. Of course, these animals talk to each other. Two of them are determined. One, Chance (who lives up to his name) gets careless and overly adventurous, putting the others in danger. Shadow is an optimist. He believes sincerely that they will eventually be found and returned to their families. It's a good story and the voices are superimposed. They are not made to talk with some twisted mouth, to look like humans. This is a great movie for children. It is about love and compassion and commitment to an ideal. It also expresses the idea of never giving up.

This movie is a remake of the 1963 original, which was based on a popular children's book "The Incredible Journal". The story concerns two dogs and a cat which leave a temporary boarding home and journey through a wilderness to their family home. The contrast between the original and this remake illustrates the change from viewing animals as animals and viewing them as funny shaped people. The original had a narrator, who filled in on the animal's motivations as needed. The events of the story, while implausible for a single set of animals in a small time span, were each individually reasonable. In the remake, the animals talk. (Spoiler: animals can't talk.) They reason and act like humans. Many of their actions are implausible. This is a good movie for children if all you want is an expanded cartoon like fantasy world. But if you want a movie about real creatures worthy of the love and respect we give our pets, stick to the original.

I first saw this movie when my children were young in the early 80's. Now 30 years later I am enjoying it again with my granddaughter. For a two year old she sits spellbound through it from beginning to end. She is always concerned when Shadow falls from the railroad tracks in to the mud and cant get out and encourages him to keep trying. My favorite scene is the suspense building as you wait for the animals to come in to view in the end and return to their owners. Waiting for Shadow to make his appearance always has the tears running down my cheeks. I know he is going to make it but it is still an emotional scene as he gains speed running to his owner. I had to order this movie to add to my granddaughters collection.

It took me to the times when I had pets and they actually formed an integral part of my life ! The best part of the movie is it's majestic panorama - pine forests, clear streams,undisturbed stretches of open fields and grandeur of the mountains - I haven't searched about where this film was shot but will find it soon. An old craving to make a vagabond amidst nature popped up again ! Having experienced the psyche of cats and dogs closely, I enjoyed the depiction.Though cats are not as emotional as Sassy,it feels good to see it that way.Chance is a typical pup which appeals directly due to it's raw innocence.Shadow,on the contrary,adds much of the emotional flavor the movie has.All in all,the movie is a win.Only one sad thing struck my mind - I doubt if the future generations will ever experience an idyllic,artless childhood amidst a calm nature !!!