‘Homeward Bound’ By Desson Howe Washington Post Staff Writer February 12, 1993

Director: Duwayne Dunham Cast: Robert Hays; Kim Greist; Jean Smart; Veronica Lauren; Kevin Chevalia; Benj Thall General audience

There's nothing better than the simple emotions, free of video-age impurity, especially in kids' movies. Walt Disney's "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey," a remake of the wet-nose classic, is a sentimental glass of water. There isn't a Mario Brother in sight, not one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Nor does anyone yell out "Awesome!" Only parents can appreciate the unadulterated beauty of that.

Like the Mary Martin "Peter Pan" TV special, this is a brief return to the innocence you once had, or think you did. Even the most televisionally overstimulated will likely enjoy this boy-and-his-dog movie -- which also happens to be a girl-and-her-cat movie too.

Few need introduction to the 1963 original, adapted from Sheila Burnford's 1960 novel. In it, two dogs and a cat took a 250-mile trek across Canada to reunite with their family. This time, golden retriever Shadow, bulldog pup Chance and Himalayan cat Sassy take to the Sierras to relocate three children, their missing owners.

New stepfather Robert Hays has relocated the kids to San Francisco. The pets, Hays figures, will fare better on a friend's spacious farm. But after the tearful goodbyes, it doesn't take long for the animals to realize they've been dumped.

Shadow, a long-in-the-tooth, faithful sort, waits patiently for master Peter (Benj Thall). Sassy frets for owner Hope (Veronica Lauren). New pup on the block Chance (also the narrator of the movie) hasn't formed any lasting friendship with pint-sized handler Jamie (Kevin Chevalia). But when Shadow and Sassy head out to find their people, he goes with them for the company. The rest is a journey through wilderness. There are run-ins with bears and a cougar (the dogs take good care of that cat) and Sassy finds herself heading down a waterfall.

During these nature battles, there is interspecies bickering among the trio. In the manner of "Look Who's Talking," the animals exchange kid-witty repartee. The familiar voice behind Shadow happens to be Don Ameche. "Cats rule and dogs drool!" sniffs Sally Field, playing Sassy. But the best-talking animal is an off-screen Fox -- as in Michael J. As Chance, he makes an amusing, wavery-voiced little hound, as he squeezes through fences, chases Sassy and -- in the worst mistake of his life -- sniffs the business end of a porcupine.

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