 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
- Review Date: March 7, 2005
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1993
Common Sense Media says
Adventurous animal tale will have kids riveted.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this uplifting, heartwarming adventure has strong messages about family and perseverance, as well as a few tense/scary moments when the animals are in peril. While kids under 5 will enjoy the animals, they probably won't follow the story. And older tweens may find it too juvenile, despite the abundance of attitude and irreverent humor. But those in the 5-8 age bracket will fall in love with the characters and get the humor -- this film is aimed at them.
What's the story?
When their owners go on vacation, golden retriever Shadow (voiced by Don Ameche), bulldog Chance (Michael J. Fox), and Himalayan cat Sassy (Sally Field), are left with a friend. After a few days, Chance becomes convinced that something's wrong and runs away; Sassy and Shadow follow. Determined to go home, they traverse the Sierras, ford rivers, and tangle with unfriendly bears. Shadow becomes a hero by finding a lost little girl and alerting her parents. Afterward, when the three pets are taken to a shelter to await their family, they again break out and continue their difficult journey. Exchanging wisecracks all the way, Chance, Shadow, and Sassy finally arrive home, where they're welcomed with open arms.
Is it any good?
Witty dialogue and well-cast voices make HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY a delight from start to finish. Fox and Ameche do a terrific job of giving voice to their canine characters; Ameche is particularly poignant as the older and much wiser Shadow. Field, hilarious as the snide and sharp-tongued Sassy, constantly berates Chance for his impetuous behavior and less-than-perfect manners. The animals themselves perform some riveting stunts.
As the threesome makes their way home, viewers are carried along through a landscape full of peril and beauty. Although there are some scary moments -- like when Shadow and Chance confront a bobcat, or when the elderly Shadow falls into a deep ditch on the last leg of their journey -- the banter keeps things light. The well-written script contains plenty of kid-friendly humor, but even adult viewers will enjoy Sassy's stinging putdowns and Shadow's deep-voiced wisdom.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what kids should do if they get separated from their parents.
How did Shadow, Chance, and Sassy cope with their fear of being alone?
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AGE
Good movie, and very sad.
I actually still watch this movie sometimes. It's sad, heartwarming, funny, and touching. Parents, there's nothing to worry about; no bad language, no smoking, not really anything that will concern you. But, you must know your child well, because this movie can make them cry and/or become frightened. You see, I even felt a little sad watching this movie. One dog, Shadow, becomes hurt and the cat, Sassy, and the other dog find Shadow in a ditch lying in the ground, hurt and dirty. He's weak and he's trying to make it back up to his friends, but keeps falling. Then, he says that he can't go on with the two. It's a sad scene. There are more scenes like this, and your kid(s) may become sad.
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AGE
decent
Very good movie... nice movie for pet lovers.... good family movie. definitely let your kids see it... somewhat scary for kids under 4-5
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AGE
My two and half year old absolutely loves this movie! He found an old VHS tape of it at my parents house. He wanted to watch the "puppy movie" now everytime we go over there, he wants to watch it! Cartoons and even some pixar films do not hold his interest, but having real animals in the movie makes all the difference!
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AGE
Some scary scenes of animals in danger, but all in all OK
Overall I did like it, but found the scenes of peril a bit too scary for my five year old. Keep in mind she has not watched too much media in her short life and we are protective about what she sees. With some reassurance she did just fine, but I would have liked to have known to expect the near-drowning, the mountain lion and the porcupine quills in Chance's face - this last one was particularly upsetting to my daughter, who thought he was really hurt. Also the lost little girl and the vet pulling out quills and seeming to hurt the animals were a bit of a concern. As I said, we are a bit more careful than the average viewer and overall it was enjoyed and will be watched again at some point.
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AGE
A great family movie
A great family movie all around! All ages liked it and it taught them to never give up.
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AGE
i love this movie.its funny and cute and i cried in parts of it. i love the dogs and the cat. chance is just so funny.love shadow.and loves sassy personality.amazing movie. ive probably watched 15 times!!!!!
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| Topics: | adventures, friendship |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Duwayne Dunham |
| Cast: | Don Ameche, Michael J. Fox, Sally Field |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 84 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 10, 1993 |
| DVD release date: | August 10, 1993 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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