Carl Woodward

Enjoyed the film very much. It was better than I anticipated based on the trailers and critics' reviews. The story is the classic lost dog finds it's way home plot line with very thoughtful perspectives as Bella encounters various people, animals, and challenges. The cinematography is excellent. Shelby, the star dog, is a natural actor. Appreciated the fact that the animals are rescue animals (Shelby, her second, and Mother Cat, too). The human cast is very talented. Jonah Hauer-King is a better actor than the trailers led me to believe. I was absolutely convinced by Ashley Judd's portrayal of a war veteran with PTSD. The veterans are portrayed by actual disabled veterans and they do a fine job of it. Was moved by the scene where the veterans protect Bella. If you are undecided about seeing this movie, go see it. You will probably enjoy it. It's basically a road adventure film starring a dog, but a very thoughtful one. The producers made an effort to ensure that audiences knew there would be a happy ending. This made it easy to watch Bella face many challenges and perils without getting too choked up.