Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (1995)

A boy (Jesse Bradford) and his yellow Labrador are marooned on a wilderness island in British Columbia and must find their way home through uncharted forests. This is a story about friendship and personal strength, focusing on the relationship between a boy and his dog as they battle the elements, the terrain and, of course, wild animals in their effort to find their way home and survive their harsh surroundings. Director Philip Borsos has a nice eye for those Ansel Adams-like moments--but scenery only carries a movie so far and this movie asks too much. Though relatively short at 81 minutes, it still feels long. --Marshall Fine Amazon.com

Good Family Video

Just like the title says, Good Family Video.
This movie+ your family + popcorn = Great family night with the kids. October 3, 2008

A Boy and His Dog Fight to Survive

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, young Angus McCormick (Jesse Bradford) has learned many survival skills. He's just finishing up a nice canoe. And when he finds a stray dog, he adopts him and names him Yellow.

Taking a few days off from school to accompany his dad, John (Bruce Davison), on a supply run seems like a dream come true. But when they encounter a fierce storm, the boat they are in capsizes. John is quickly rescued, but the search and rescue teams can't find any trace of Angus or Yellow.

The two have survives and are trying to find their way back to civilization. Will they be able to survive and be reunited with their family?

This movie is fairly standard and innocuous family fare. It is a little slow at times, especially in the beginning while things are set up. It is fairly predictable. But it is entertaining. Kids will enjoy it more than their parents. My biggest complaint was actually the short scenes. Many things are introduced and resolved too quickly, never giving any plot point time to be fully developed. At the same time, I did eventually get caught up in the emotions and found the ending satisfying.

The film could have been much better but does grow on you. Don't rush out to see it, but there's no reason to avoid it either. October 1, 2008

Great American Movie

This is by far one of the best American Movies, that I have seen in a very long time. It was indeed a true American reality show. May 22, 2007

Disappointing

I love dogs and I really wanted to love this film. Unfortunately I didn't find it quite as satisfying at most of the reviewers. Can't quite put my finger on it, but perhaps I didn't find the characters as likeable or convincing as some who saw this. Even the dog was not that interesting for some reason; perhaps not one of the more attractive breeds. Also it seemed that they didn't spend enough time developing the bond between the boy and the dog. (The movie is short; not even 1 1/2 hours.) It's a great family movie and I think it is more suitable for young children than older ones who may find it boring. The younger ones might be a little upset near the end when the dog can't be rescued, but don't worry as it has a happy ending. It's an okay movie, but I expected a lot more. I like movies that BOTH kids and adults can enjoy (like Shrek II). This is definately one mainly just for the kids. So many things that kids can't or shouldn't watch. This is one that anyone can watch, which is a big plus. Probably would have been better as a TV movie and would easily fit in a 2-hour timeframe with plenty of time for commercials. January 12, 2007

HEARTWARMING FAMILY FILM

Young Jesse Bradford gives a heartwarming performance as Angus, a young lad who adopts a labrador and names it Yellow Dog. On a sailing trip with father Bruce Davison (effective in a non-typical role), he and the dog are thrown overboard and faced with surviving in uncharted Pacific Northwest. Mimi Rogers plays Angus' mother, and the parents' dedication in believing their son is still alive is touching as well. Although the movie doesn't give us a lot of "adventures" with the boy and his dog, it nonetheless focuses on Angus' survival skills and the devotion of his dog. One particularly poignant scene involves a rabbit. Early in the film, Bradford and his buddies are chasing a rabbit and he has the opportunity to kill it with his slingshot but upon seeing the cute little thing, he scares it away. When he is lost, a rabbit is once again caught by the dog and Angus realizes the difference between hunting for play and for survival. An enjoyable family film. August 7, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...