REVIEW: Bella is rescued as a puppy by Lucas (Jonah Hauer-King) from under a run-down house. Lucas adopts her to give her a safe home, as the two forge a strong, loving bond. But Bella’s happy life doesn’t last long when an animal control agent deems her illegal to live in Denver, as pit-bulls are forbidden there. Bella is relocated 400 miles away from Lucas, to live with the uncle and aunt of his girlfriend Olivia (Alexandra Shipp). However, Bella escapes from there to begin an adventurous journey back home to Lucas.
A majority of the acting, as it were, is left up to the voice work by Bryce Dallas Howard, who carries most of the film by herself. It’s easy to forget the person behind Bella’s vocal performance because Dallas Howard makes Bella incredibly endearing while capturing the inner thoughts of a pet dog. Thus, we’re swept away by Bella’s world view as she manoeuvres her way around the challenges of the wild, and the people she encounters. The dog playing the adult version of Bella is a scene-stealer who will charm her way into every canine lover’s heart. The human actors are less impressive. The main character Lucas played by Jonah Hauer-King has the chocolate boy look intact but brings little else of note. The bond between Bella and him is solidified primarily by the canine, and it’s often hard to grasp Lucas’ connection to his beloved pet. While this can be overlooked, it dampens the emotional impact at times. In fact, his girlfriend Olivia comes across far more invested in Bella with Alexandra Shipp’s performance. Meanwhile, watch out for Wes Studi and Edward James Olmos in small but impactful roles.
The plot is predictable – it’s spelt out in the title, but the screenplay throws some curveballs along the way to ensure all the clichés don’t get too overbearing. Despite the apparent premise, the film embraces what it is – a wholesome family movie that doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Director Charles Martin Smith manages to create a heart-warming, feel-good film catering to animal lovers.
No comments:
Post a Comment