A review of Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a 1993 American remake of the 1963 film The Incredible Journey, which was based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Sheila Burnford. It was directed by Duwayne Dunham and was released on 3 February 1993. This article provides you with a review of Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993).

Basic plot

Chance, an American bulldog, Shadow, an older golden retriever, and Sassy, a Himalayan cat, are left in a kennel as their owner marries a new husband and embarks on moving house. However, the animals think that they have been abandoned. Shadow begins to worry about Peter, his owner, and so he decides to go and find him. Sassy and a reluctant Chance follow. They do eventually follow though and head into the rocky, mountainous wilderness, with Shadow leading by instinct. When halfway across a log crossing a river, the log breaks apart and Sassy falls into a river running beneath the log. Shadow jumps in to try to save her, but she goes over a waterfall. Shadow and Chance search for her along the bank, but as night falls, they mourn their loss and continue without her. A half-drowned Sassy is rescued from the river by a man who lives in the woods, and who nurses her back to health. She is eventually reunited with the two dogs.

Continuing the journey

The group eventually reach a train yard when Shadow falls through some old boards into a muddy pit, injuring his leg. With Sassy and Chance persuading him, he tries to climb out but is unable to climb up the slippery slope and states that he is too old and the others they should go on without him. Near dusk, the dogs' family is out in the backyard playing, when Jamie claims to hear Chance barking. The others think that he is imagining things, but moments later Chance comes running over a hill with Sassy following close behind. Just as Peter sadly presumes that Shadow was too old to make it, the dog comes limping over the hill to be reunited with the overjoyed Peter. As the family goes into the house, Chance decides that he has finally found his home.

Critical reception

The film received a mostly positive reception and the film currently holds an 87% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes based on 23 reviews (01.08.11). The film has grossed just over $40 million worldwide since its release and was followed by a sequel, Home ward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, which was released in 1996.