A DOG'S WAY HOME | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"A DOG'S WAY HOME"
(2019) (Jonah Hauer-King, Ashley Judd) (PG)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: A lost dog travels hundreds of miles to get back to her owner.

PLOT:

Lucas (JONAH HAUER-KING) is a young man who lives in Denver with his Army veteran mom, Terri (ASHLEY JUDD), and works in the VA hospital that she frequents. He does so alongside Olivia (ALEXANDRA SHIPP) who also helps him with animal rescue work, such as directly across the street from him where a bunch of feral cats and dogs live beneath a dilapidated building.

The owner of that property, Gunter (BRIAN MARKINSON), isn't pleased that their efforts have slowed down his demolition work, and thus he's called on animal control officer Chuck (JOHN CASSINI) to remove the animals. But not all are removed, including a mixed breed pit bull puppy that rushes out to meet Lucas and claims him as her human. He names her Bella (who only we hear voiced by BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD) and the two quickly become inseparable.

But when Chuck spots the dog -- that's illegal in Denver -- he confiscates the pooch. Lucas manages to get her back after paying a fine, but is told if she's found off their property again, the dog will be euthanized. Accordingly, he arranges with Olivia to have Bella live with her relatives -- four hundred miles away in New Mexico -- until he and his mom can find a place outside of the city limits where the dog will be safe. But once Bella is there, her desire to return home and be with Lucas kicks in and she begins the long and arduous trek.

During that walk that ends up taking two and a half years, she has run-ins and encounters with both other animals and humans alike, including a pack of wolves that want to hunt her and a cougar cub that she adopts along the way. Gavin (BARRY WATSON) and Taylor (MOTELL FOSTER) end up briefly taking in Bella and another dog, with Bella later running into homeless veteran Axel (EDWARD JAMES OLMOS) who claims her as his and won't let her go. Yet, despite those new friendships with other animals and having new owners, Bella simply wants to go home and be with her human, Lucas.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they love dogs or movies featuring them, they probably will.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For thematic elements, some peril and language.

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