Originally filmed by Disney in 1963 as The Incredible Journey, Sheila Burnford's tale of three animals and their epic journey across the wilderness to be reunited with their absentee owners is an anthropomorphic orgy, even by Walt's weird standards.
The producers here have done little tampering with the original concept, besides making the "character" of the bulldog puppy Chance (voiced by Michael J. Fox) hip enough to sniff around the hen house enquiring, "Which of you guys are regular and which are extra crispy?" Don Ameche does the mature, steadfast retriever Shadow whose courage and experience sees off all manner of natural threats, while Sally Field plays the exquisitely vain Himalayan cat Sassy. Our 12-legged trio brave the hardships of the Pacific North West to find their owners in San Francisco, becoming nobler, better critters in the process.
Empire's four experts (between six and ten) adored every moment, blubbing in response to every well-thumbed emotional trigger. Their adult minders resisted its blandishments, although one was discovered as the lights came up complaining of something in his eye.
