For all the animal lovers out there, Hollywood has a special genre just for you. There is a particular section that has movies from an animal's perspective of the human world, mostly having dogs as leads. Within that, we also have a separate genre that has a dog return home to his owner. There have a been a couple of classics in this sub-genre like Lassie Come Home and Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. A Dog's Way Home is somewhat similar to these movies, predictable in its premise but heartwarming in its narrative. After all, you should be made of stone for not liking a movie that has a dog leaping towards its owner after months of getting lost in the wilderness.

A Dog's Way Home is about Bella (voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard), a dog who loses her mother early in her life and is raised by a cat. Later, she finds a home in the good-hearted Lucas' (Jonah Hauer-King) house, where he lives his mother, Terri (Ashley Judd) a former war veteran. Bella loves Lucas and couldn't be away from him. However, certain circumstances force Lucas to keep Bella at his girlfriend Olivia (Alexandra Shipp)'s relatives' house in New Mexico.

Missing her owner too much, Bella escapes from her new abode and begins a 400 mile-journey to be with Lucas. On the way, she has her own adventures, from mothering a cougar to being a reluctant pet to a dying beggar (Edward James Olmos). Thankfully, save for a nasty incident in the forest, none of them is dangerous enough to stop Bella from meeting Lucas.

From the first step forward, there is nothing unpredictable about A Dog's Way Home. It is very easy for a viewer to see where the movie will take you and will offer you nothing less than a happy ending. The movie takes its time to gets its footing and Bryce Dallas Howard's voiceover is grating at first. Was the voiceover really required? For it gives us many reasons to feel confused. Bella's thoughts are made in precise, masterful English and yet when humans speak, she only gathers snatches of it. This confusion gives the movie its driving point, but I wonder if there was any way they could have avoided the voiceover. The 1987 film Benji The Hunted did the whole mute animal thing beautifully. BTW, the whole cougar subplot in A Dog's Way Home seems lifted from here.

Also for those, who don't like mushy stuff, well, A Dog's Way Home is filled some syrupy moments. And for those who do, strap in for a ride that is filled with some smiles, some tears and lots of cuteness. My interest in A Dog's Way Home actually got ignited when Bella begins her 400-mile journey to be with Lucas. There are some lovely scenes in these portions and one nail-biting sequence too, that ends with a hero moment!

Watch the trailer of A Dog's Way Home here:

And if you get invested in Bella's journey by then, I am pretty sure that you will tear up when the payoff arrives. It is such moments that serve the purpose why A Dog's Way Home is being watched by you, whether you are a canine lover or not. Credit due for director Charles Martin Smith to make the dog who plays Bella give an empathetic performance. However, the CGI involved in rendering some of the wild animals in the movie is very inconsistent.

Yay!

- The Dog

- Some Heart-Warming Moments

- The Touching Climax

Nay!

- Predictable and Inspired

- CGI is Inconsistent

Final Thoughts

If you are the one who goes all 'awww' seeing those puppy videos on the net, then A Dog's Way Home is guaranteed to give you tears of joy! A moving tale, even if painfully predictable, A Dog's Way Home has its doggy heart in its right place!

Rating:3out of 5

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 02, 2019 11:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).