Movie #271 - Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
1993 - Rated G - 1 hr 24 min
Director: Duwayne Dunham
Starring: Michael J Fox, Sally Field, Don Alder, Robert Hays, Jean Smart, Don Ameche

This was a personal favorite when I was growing up.  What kid doesn't love a good adventure story told by two dogs and a cat? Especially when they have such vibrant personalities (and celebrity voices).

So does it hold up now?  Mostly, yeah.  The kids missing their pets and the pets missing their kids is still a compelling story line... but is this really believable?  I guess this does happen, the whole pets walking all the way home thing.  Every once in a while there's a story on the news about a courageous travelling pet.  I don't know any of these pets -- my dog is certainly not a potential cross-country traveller -- but it's not totally unbelievable that they're out there.

If you can believe the story line, then the movie is fun and easy to enjoy.  The three pets are characterized well and some of the lines are still funny.  Overall, this is one I can easily see myself sharing with my daughter when she's a little older.

Movie #18 - Airplane!

Airplane!
Paramount Pictures
1980 - Rated PG - 1 hr 27 min
Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty

Everyone loves this movie. For the longest time, this movie was eternally on television. Chances were, if you turned on the TV and flipped channels, it would pop up somewhere. What a testament to this classic's staying power !

I'll be honest and admit that I probably don't get every reference or joke, since this movie was made just before I was born. But there are few things that I don't find funny about it, and all the major references (i.e. John Travolta's disco dancing) still work. I had forgotten how late in the movie Leslie Nielson appears, but once he's on screen I basically don't stop laughing. This guy made literal humor an artform... "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley." Classic.

Anyway, this was a great way to continue my light movie fare for the day and also lots of fun to revisit. I think it was probably the first time I'd watch this the whole way through in many years.

The end of shelf one is in sight! We're two-thirds of the way there!
Only 9 movies left to go after this... I can do it!