A Dog's Way Home (2019) - Movie Review

Remember what I was saying at the beginning of the year about how 2018 was the year of getting our shit together? Well, we’re barely into March and I’m already seeing signs that that progression isn’t lasting. I mean, nothing says "we’ve learnt nothing" more than taking one of the more misguided releases of 2017, A Dog’s Breakfast Purpose, and deciding that it needed not one but two follow-ups this year. Both adapted from the writer of the original source material at that, with the sequel to Purpose coming out later this year, and a separate adaptation in cinemas right now. Knowing my now-prominent axe to grind when it comes to talking animal movies, and my position that Purpose is awful in its own special way, I can’t say I’m expecting a lot out of this one. Thankfully, this film didn’t go below my expectations; if anything, this turned out better than it had any right to.

Don’t get me wrong, we’re still in very manipulative territory, but said manipulation isn’t banking on strong-armed empathy to make its point. This doesn’t exist just to see dogs be miserable on-screen. Instead, this story of Bella making an over-400-mile trek to get back home taps into the more respectable side of the traditional dog narrative. Rather than engaging through animals in the worst scenarios, this lets the audience enjoy the cuteness without anything too untoward getting in the way.

Honestly, more so than Purpose, this feels more like a once-removed attempt at a Milo & Otis-type narrative, considering the emphasis on Bella’s connection with cats. The main difference being I'm pretty sure that the animals weren't actually put in danger to make this thing. As much as I want to rail against the rather conspicuous CGI used to bring her bobcat companion to life… it’s a dog going on adventures with a wildcat; I’m not that heartless that I don’t see the cool in this premise.

It also helps that the main thing that Purpose actually had going for it, its understanding of how animals think and behave, is here in plentiful supply. While the narratives themselves leave a bit to be desired, W. Bruce Cameron (author of the original book and co-writer of the script adaptation) shows a definite connection with the viewpoint of a given dog. The precious innocence, the understanding of the world only as it pertains to themselves, the occasional moments of simple truths that give the non-human outsider perspective some emotional weight; it all hits the right note, and since the contents aren’t as drab or accidentally nightmarish as last time, we can actually enjoy it for a change.

That might have something to do with how the relationship between people and dogs is conveyed here, this time emphasising their use as support animals through the inclusion of Bella’s owner’s mother, an army veteran with undisclosed psychological issues. It definitely fits in with mainstream America’s mild fetishisation of the military, but at least here, they’re shown as people first that are worth taking care of when they get back home. It’s an easy in for emotional heart-tugging, and even with the occasional head-scratching moment (the designation of ‘pitbull’ in-film being compared to “racism for dogs” is… certainly a thing that someone wrote down), it gives a much more valid reason for humans and dogs to be attached to each other than the parade of bewilderment that made up most of Purpose.

Okay, maybe I spoke too soon on the whole "we’ve learnt nothing" thing. While I’m still not expecting A Dog’s Journey to be much better than its predecessor, I’m at least glad that there’s a movie about doggos out there from this year that isn’t an absolute pain to sit through. I wouldn’t call it the most enthralling thing out there either, but as a pleasant diversion/excuse to look at cute animals for an hour and a half, you could certainly do a lot worse.