I am sure most people who know me would assume that I have spent my whole life around dogs and adoring them all. I wouldn’t blame them if they did, I am a huge dog person now but that wasn’t always the case. I never grew up around dogs. The first dog my parents got was a Siberian Husky named Demon Flash Bandit when I was around 18 years old. Before then, I was actually afraid of dogs due to an incident in which I was attacked as a kid. I didn’t understand dogs then, but Demon (and later his adopted sister Angel) helped me understand and adore dogs.
So, after all that has been said, naturally a movie entitled “A Dog’s Way Home” would be on my radar. The film is based on a book by W. Bruce Cameron (author of “A Dog’s Purpose”) and tells the story of a dog named Bella who becomes separated from her owner and sets off on a long adventure to reunite with him. It’s a simple story much in the same vain as “Homeward Bound”. Throughout her journey home, Bella risks many dangers and gives up comfortable living alternatives in order to find Lucas, the human she loves and her owner.
The film wasn’t reliant on human performances, instead focusing mainly on the dog Bella. Bryce Dallas Howard voices Bella’s inner monologue. Howard provides warmth and innocence to her voice work and helps you feel what Bella is going through. I was surprised to Ashley Judd as the mother in the movie. It seemed like yesterday in which she was the lead actress in many romantic comedies. I must be getting old. A standout performance in the movie, although brief, was that of Edward James Olmos. Olmos gives so much to even small roles that he becomes easily one of the most complex characters in the movie, making the audience both hate him and feel a great deal of sympathy for him.
“A Dog’s Way Home” isn’t for everyone of course. It has a relatively simple story so anyone going to the theater to watch a film which creates a moral debate such as “Vice” should probably steer clear of this movie. Also, if you don’t like dogs, you definitely should avoid this movie. The core of this movie is based on the love humans and dogs share between each other.
The film isn’t without some fault. Now, this isn’t the movie’s fault per say, more the marketing department’s screw up, but too much was shown in the trailer for the movie. It spoiled some elements that definitely could have been more surprising such as the relationship Bella forms with the cougar she meets. The trailer also all but confirmed that Bella would be reunited with Lucas. While that seemed like a given anyway, showcasing the scene to cap off the trailer seemed like massive overkill. I have overheard a few people say that after watching the trailer, they felt like they watched the movie and they aren’t far off. “A Dog’s Way Home” is still definitely worth seeing, but the marketing just seemed very counter productive.
This film achieves it’s goals by delivering an overall cute film that showcases the bond humans and dogs have. While it is easy to dismiss this crowd pleasing film complete with a predictable feel good ending as fluff, isn’t that part of the reason we go to movies? Escapism is the main job of entertainment, to help make you forget your troubles for a few hours and make you feel warm and happy for a change. Seeing characters go through struggles but overcome them helps give us motivation.
I should also add that “A Dog’s Way Home” provides a much needed family fare alternative to some of the other movies currently in theaters. It is also a pretty ideal movie to watch on a date if both individuals are dog lovers. Why drag your girlfriend to a superhero movie she doesn’t want to see or drag your boyfriend to a romantic comedy he doesn’t want to see when you both could be happy seeing this movie.
Grade: B
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