The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Og’s Way Home’ is saccharine and sentimental
sweet tooth do comes to movies? might want to epping out for “A ” W. Bruce Camerhis book about a way back to her miles of Colorado his is one sugary at it’s ineffective — og-lovers not to get at the inevitable ust very, very, e a PBS Kids ets a cute puppy h much higher
ward provides the the heroine, Bella, appily with some er an abandoned mal services snags ng her mom). She by a kind collegee street, Lucas g), who works at with his mom, a epression, played
ute pup who cute dog with and comprehenver quite evolve ar-old (i.e. “I’m From left, Ashley Judd, Rolando Boyce and Annie Nelson in a scene from Columbia Pictures’ “A Dog’s Way Home.” ready to do ‘go home!’” She also happens to be enemy No. 1 of the city of Denver after she falls on the wrong side of a ban on breeds designated as pit bulls, and impounds them on sight.
“I know, it’s stupid,” explains an employee at the animal shelter admirably succinctly. Another character, Olivia, played by Alexandra Shipp of “Love, Simon” describes it as, “basically racism.” This movie really has it in for Denver’s Ordinance Sec. 8-55.
Once the authorities get word of Bella, and impound her once, her cozy existence with Lucas and his mom comes to an end and she goes to live, for a time, with some relatives of Olivia’s who live in New Mexico. But the dutiful and deeply nostalgic Bella decides to take things into her own hands and find her way back to Denver and Lucas.
Directed by Charles Martin Smith, of such animal adventures as “Dolphin Tale” and “Air Bud,” “A Dog’s Way Home” is actually surprisingly intense. Bella goes dumpster-diving one day with a pack of mangy dogs she comes across, she witnesses poachers killing a cougar, befriends a CGI baby cougar, steals food from quite a few people and establishments, survives an avalanche, a freeway and even lives alongside a homeless man for a while. She is laser-focused on getting back to Lucas, however, and even the good situations she comes across (like living in the very stylish and expensive home of a couple who take her in) aren’t enough.
Although it might be a stretch to categorize this as a movie, “A Dog’s Way Home” is harmless enough and a nice little adventure that’s fit for the whole family. But you might want to have the tissues ready.