Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

"Homeward Bound" is one of my children's favorite movies. It's the story of Shadow, Chance, and Sassy, the pets belonging to the three Seaver children. Shadow is the older, wiser dog, voiced by Don Ameche. Sassy (Sally Field) is a Himalayan cat, and she truly lives up to her name, the sassy comments flying like fur. (Forgive me for that one.) Chance (Michael J. Fox) is a mongrel, the newest addition to the family. He's been in animal control clinics and dog pounds several times in his life. He's a dog of the streets, and because of this, has a hard time trusting anyone. With the Seaver family, Chance finally has the opportunity to form lifelong bonds, but he's not sure that's what he wants.

The kids' mom is getting remarried, and the children turn toward their pets for comfort. Shadow and Sassy know how much their children need them, but Chance hasn't figured out how very much his boy loves and depends on him.

As part of the deal that goes along with the marriage, the kids are going with their mom and her new husband, Bob, to the city. They'll come back to see the animals, and they will be looking for a new place to live where the animals can come too, but in the meantime, Bob's house just isn't set up for animals. They've arranged for the pets to stay at a wonderful farm not too far from their old house. It's hard for the kids to say goodby, but Bob promised they'd come back for a visit in two weeks.

The animals are left on the friend's farm, confused and wondering why they are being left behind. When their owners don't immediately return for them, they set out on a journey back to their own farm, looking for their kids.

This journey takes up the bulk of the movie, as we see these animals encounter things they've never seen before, like porcupines, waterfalls, and having to forage for food. Chance is the most gung-ho about the adventure; living on the streets has given him a sense of the wild side. Shadow, as the most experienced, is the leader of the group, his unerring nose leading them back home. Sassy provides most of the comic entertainment; as the only cat, she feels the need to poke fun at the dogs every chance she gets.

By the end of the film, Chance has learned to trust, and the children have accepted Bob as a part of their lives. You'll enjoy watching the adventures of these lovable pets with your children.

This film is rated G.

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Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I am a stay-at-home mom, author of eight published books, a freelance editor, and the mother of four incredible children. I enjoy scrapbooking, watching good movies, and taking naps.

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