Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 1,126 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Michael J. Fox's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Disney Plus.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. Before the Seavers leave for a family vacation to San Francisco, they drop off their pets -- Chance, an adventurous American bulldog; Shadow, a wise golden retriever; and Sassy, a cautious cat -- at a friend's ranch. But when the animals start to worry that they've been left for good, the three embark together on a treacherous and thrilling journey to find their way back home through the California wilderness. Michael J. Fox and Sally Field lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1993. What keeps Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Michael J. Fox's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.