Balto II: Wolfquest (G, 2002)

Wolf/dog hybrid Balto (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) needs all the courage he can muster when, angered over the sudden discovery of her father's wolf heritage, his only remaining daughter, Aleu (voiced by Lacey Chabert), runs away in utter defiance of her family's history. Ever the good papa, Balto promises mother Jenna to return the child safe and sound despite risking life and limb from slant-eyed wolverines, cunning foxes, and a sinister, rival wolf-pack that brings his nightmarish fantasies to brimming, painful reality.

There's no shortage of drama in BALTO II: WOLFQUEST, as everyone's favorite mongrel and his daughter take the long way toward figuring out who they are -- and where they belong. Touching song and dance numbers add to the movie's intensity while presenting some thought-provoking demands of its youthful audience.

Equally balanced with laughs, this sequel offers a perfect blend of entertainment, suspense, and wholesome values to an impressionable audience that is sure to learn the universal consistency of change, the values of self-esteem, and the power of a good dream in one 85-minute sitting. With so many positives, it's easy to forgive the film's tendency to be a little long-winded in certain segments while giving the story's hero, Balto, a decidedly wimpy voice.

Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Phil Weinstein
Cast: David Carradine, Jodi Benson, Lacey Chabert
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 76 minutes
Theatrical release: February 19, 2002
DVD release: February 19, 2002
MPAA Rating: G