{"id":65674,"date":"2018-10-02T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2018-10-02T12:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=65674"},"modified":"2022-02-05T23:00:48","modified_gmt":"2022-02-06T04:00:48","slug":"movie-review-the-incredible-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/movie-review-the-incredible-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review: The Incredible Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image Copyright Disney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Based on Sheila Burnford\u2019s 1961 novel of the same name, Disney\u2019s The Incredible Journey <\/em>was theatrically released on November 20, 1963. The live action adventure drama is eighty minutes in length. A remake, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey<\/em>, was theatrically released on February 3, 1993.<\/p>\n

Plot Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

In contemporary Canada, a middle-aged bachelor named John Longridge (Emile Genest) offers to watch the three pets\u2014a young Labrador Retriever named Luath, an elderly English Bull Terrier named Bodger, and a Siamese cat named Tao\u2014of his friend Professor James Hunter (John Drainie), who has received a special appointment at Oxford University and is temporarily relocating his human family, including his wife, Nancy (Sandra Scott); his young daughter, Elizabeth (Marion Finlayson); and his young son, Peter (Ronald Cohoon), to England. Although Longridge treats the pets well, the animals become homesick, and on the morning that Longridge embarks on a three-week-long duck hunting trip, before his house sitter, Mrs. Oakes (Beth Amos), can arrive, Luath, Tao, and Bodger commence the incredible journey, attempting to find their way back to their real home, the Hunters\u2019 vacant house. Unfortunately for the critters, said house is two-hundred miles away, and a combination of dangerous natural terrain, hostile animals, hostile humans, Bodger\u2019s advanced age, and the declining temperatures of early autumn threaten to obstruct both the pets\u2019 path and their lives. Will Luath, Tao, and Bodger make it home, and, if not, how will the Hunter family react to the loss of its pets?<\/p>\n

Acting<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most of the talking in The Incredible Journey <\/em>comes through the narration of Rex Allen, whose commentary is simultaneously comforting and amusing, akin to a grandfather relaying an exciting tale to his grandchildren. Allen\u2019s narration compensates for the lack of dubbed voices for the animals.<\/p>\n

The human actors, excluding Allen, are the flick\u2019s only real downfall. They almost universally provide stiff, awkward performances and often seem like caricatures. Perhaps the performances can be rationalized as adequately reflecting an animal\u2019s distorted perception of humans, but Disney did not acquire the best actors for this film.<\/p>\n

Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n

With limited dialogue, great vistas of natural beauty, and plenty of animal shenanigans, The Incredible Journey <\/em>is a more sophisticated version of the installments of Walt Disney\u2019s \u201cTrue-Life Adventures\u201d series, a string of thirteen nature-based films released by the Disney Studio between Seal Island <\/em>in 1949 and Jungle Cat <\/em>in 1960. (1) The main difference between the \u201cTrue-Life Adventures\u201d installments and The Incredible Journey <\/em>is the discernable plot in the latter; as such, The Incredible Journey <\/em>is for all intents and purposes one of Disney\u2019s \u201cTrue-Life Fantasy\u201d films. Although only Perri <\/em>(1957) officially garnered this label, other films, including Sammy, the Way-Out Seal<\/em> (1962) and Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar<\/em> (1967), followed a similar formula, incorporating an overt story and oftentimes human characters in addition to the antics of nature. (2) Since 2007, Disney has released a series of nature-based documentaries under the \u201cDisneynature\u201d label.<\/p>\n

The vistas of Canadian terrain that are incorporated over the opening credits are absolutely stunning and beautiful to behold, beauty that is enhanced by soothing yet grandiose background music. If Disney wanted to convert its \u201cSoarin\u2019\u201d attractions to \u201cSoarin\u2019 Over Canada,\u201d the company would be well advised to reuse The Incredible Journey<\/em>\u2019s opening credits.<\/p>\n

Music<\/strong><\/p>\n

The background music in The Incredible Journey <\/em>nicely accompanies the relevant action. For example, during one stretch early in the movie, a marching tune is played as Bodger and Tao follow Luath down the street; a whimsical tune is played as Tao meanders \u201con side trips of his own\u201d; a dramatic tune is played as Tao unsuccessfully tries to eat a bird out of midair; and a soothing tune is played as the trio decides to take a rest.<\/p>\n

Action<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Incredible Journey <\/em>features numerous exciting moments. Along the way, viewers experience a sweeping journey of Canada from above; a plethora of geese fly over the heads of the pets; the pets fight a mother bear who misinterprets her cubs\u2019 play as an attack from Bodger; a hungry Bodger leads his friends into a shootout after smelling something yummy in a homeowner\u2019s garbage can; Bodger tries to hunt down an elusive rabbit; Tao struggles to swim upstream against a sweeping current; Tao battles a lynx with the help of a young hunter; Bodger is injured while trying to capture a porcupine; a kindly hunter named James MacKenzie (Robert Christie) relieves Bodger\u2019s pain; and a concluding reunion shows that when you wish upon a star, or upon a birthday candle in Peter\u2019s case, your dreams may in fact come true.<\/p>\n

Humor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aside from the witty contents of Allen\u2019s narration, The Incredible Journey <\/em>features several funny moments.<\/p>\n

Longridge and Mrs. Oakes have a disjointed telephone conversation, a discussion that creates more problems than it clarifies regarding the state of the pets during Longridge\u2019s vacation.<\/p>\n

In pondering what to do with the pets while the humans are in England, Nancy Hunter suggests boarding Bodger, Tao, and Luath in a kennel. When Elizabeth objects to this idea because Tao would be \u201ccooped up\u201d and, in any event, \u201chates other cats,\u201d Peter counters that a kennel stay would do Tao some good because \u201csometimes I [Peter] think he [Tao] thinks he\u2019s a dog.\u201d Indeed, Tao reacts better to the company of the two canines than most felines would do in comparable circumstances.<\/p>\n

Luath shakes Longridge\u2019s hand on the morning of the departure, a gesture that causes the joking bachelor to call Luath a \u201ccharmer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pets come so close to yet so far from enjoying a hearty stew at the home of an eccentric hermit (Tommy Tweed). This elderly philosopher forgets that dogs usually eat from table droppings or from bowls on the floor, not from bowls situated on the kitchen table. Oh well; More food for the hermit!<\/p>\n

In making phone calls to various agencies regarding a possible search for Bodger, Tao, and Luath, Longridge receives one answer: \u201cwe\u2019ll take care of it tomorrow.\u201d Unfortunately, as we all know, \u201ctomorrow\u201d never arrives in such instances\u2026Right?<\/p>\n

Relationship to Other Disney Films<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cats and\/or dogs also played major roles in Lady and the Tramp <\/em>(1955), Old Yeller <\/em>(1957), The Shaggy Dog <\/em>(1959), One Hundred and One Dalmatians<\/em> (1961), Nikki, Wild Dog of the North<\/em> (1961), Greyfriars Bobby<\/em> (1961), Big Red<\/em> (1962), The Three Lives of Thomasina<\/em> (1964), That Darn Cat!<\/em> (1965), The Ugly Dachshund<\/em> (1966), The Aristocats <\/em>(1970), The Biscuit Eater<\/em> (1972), The Shaggy D.A.<\/em> (1976), The Cat from Outer Space <\/em>(1978), Oliver and Company <\/em>(1988), Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey<\/em>, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco<\/em> (1996), 101 Dalmatians<\/em> (1996), That Darn Cat <\/em>(1997), Air Bud <\/em>(1997), Air Bud: Golden Receiver <\/em>(1998), 102 Dalmatians<\/em> (2000), Snow Dogs <\/em>(2002), The Shaggy Dog <\/em>(2006), Beverly Hills Chihuahua<\/em> (2008), and Bolt <\/em>(2008).<\/p>\n

\u00c9mile Genest had previously appeared in Nikki, Wild Dog of the North <\/em>and Big Red <\/em>for Disney.<\/p>\n

Rex Allen had previously narrated The Legend of Lobo <\/em>(1962) for Disney, and he subsequently narrated Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar<\/em> for the studio.<\/p>\n

In the Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Canada is among eleven countries to be represented by a pavilion in the World Showcase section of Epcot. A Circle-Vision 360\u00b0 film, \u201cO Canada!\u201d; the \u201cLe Cellier\u201d steakhouse; and beautiful gardens are the highlights of this pavilion.<\/p>\n

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Photo Copyright TanyaR<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nature and animals are highlighted at Walt Disney World\u2019s Animal Kingdom theme park. In The Incredible Journey<\/em>, James MacKenzie becomes an amateur veterinarian in removing porcupine quills from Bodger\u2019s fur. At the Animal Kingdom\u2019s Rafiki\u2019s Planet Watch section, which is scheduled for at least temporary closure on October 20, 2018, guests can view real veterinarians perform operations on various animals. (3)<\/p>\n

Adventures by Disney is offering itineraries to the Canadian Rockies throughout the summer of 2019.<\/p>\n

Disney Cruise Line offers periodic itineraries along Canada\u2019s coastlines.<\/p>\n

Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Poor acting notwithstanding, The Incredible Journey <\/em>is a simple yet effective film. A plethora of animal shenanigans, truly beautiful shots of the Canadian wilderness, a suspenseful overarching story, and a Goldilocks-level runtime make this effort a great movie for the whole family.<\/p>\n

Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) Jim Korkis, \u201cWalt and the True-Life Adventures,\u201d The Walt Disney Family Museum, February 9, 2012, accessed September 27, 2018, https:\/\/www.waltdisney.org\/blog\/walt-and-true-life-adventures<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2) Ibid.<\/p>\n

What do you think of The Incredible Journey? Let me know in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n

Sponsored Ad:\u00a0 Would you like to help support The Mouse For Less website in continuing their mission of being THE Disney vacation planning resource?\u00a0 You can do so by purchasing The Incredible Journey <\/em><\/a>from our Affiliate Link through Amazon. Thanks so much for your support!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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