We know that our canine lead Bella (played by Shelby the dog) will find her way from Farmington, Neew Mexico to Denver, Colorado. It's in the title A Dog's Way Home. Although it does take the dog two and a half years to get home and that is quite a time period to cram into a film.
The film is adapted from W. Bruce Cameron's book of the same name (not to be confused with A Dog's Journey the sequel to A Dog's Purpose). I read the book so yes, I'm going to be annoying in this review There are definitely themes that Cameron oversimplifies in the book (PTSD, homelessness, etc.), but as it is written from Bella's point of view it makes sense. She's a dog. She doesn't understand what those things are and how they truly impact a human being. This oversimplification does not work in the film. Obviously we're seeing these events happen and even though we're following Bella, it seems childlike.
Director Charles Martin Smith is working with a script that is incredibly rushed. Emotional moments that read beautifully in the book were barely glossed over in the film. As I said, two and half years is a lot to cover in two hours especially since Bella comes across and impacts so many people.
However, Smith does do a great job of showcasing Bella (voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard). Her interactions with the other animals and the humans she comes across is handled well. We know how she feels and how those she comes across feel without hearing her inner monologue.
Bella's story begins as a stray puppy living underneath a home set to be demolished. She is adopted by Lucas (Jonah Haur-King) a VA administrator living with his Afghanistan veteran mother (Ashley Judd). Lucas angers the men wanting to demolish the home so he could build an apartment building and having friends in high places, demolisher calls on a favor from his friend. His friend is an animal control officer who declares Bella a pit. As pits are banned from Denver, Lucas sends Bella to Farmington while he and his mom find a new place to live in outside of Denver city limits.
In the film, Bella's mother is briefly shown and she is a pit. The book never states anything other than Bella doesn't look anything like a pit. I do wish Bella looked like a pit (or at least acted like one). I think the point of this was just to showcase the animal control officer's abuse of power, but it still bothers me.
I do wish Bella's journey focused more on her interactions with a gay couple and a homeless veteran which make major impact in the book. These moments are quickly added, but not focused on. Instead most of the film follows her journey with a cougar. She does travel with a cougar, but so much more happens while living with the gay couple and especially while living with the homeless vet. Besides the CGI cougar and the moments CGI Bella interacts with said cougar is bad. It looks bad.
This film could have been better, but it is definitely heart warming. You feel happy for Bella once she's reunited with her people. You can't help feeling grateful that her long journey is finally over. Of course, Shelby's performance as Bella adds to it. You can't help falling for her beautiful eyes and smiley face.
