A very cool film for older kids that has a lot of adventure and a nature theme comes to DVD. It’s called The Journey Home (originally Midnight Sun when it was in theaters) and features a very good performance by Dakota Goyo. In conjunction with an equally good acting bear cub named Nanuk and his bear trainers Kyle Doig and Dawn Dumas the movie plays out featuring a good bit of movie magic. It’s a good film for the whole family that shows well under the guidance of a parent. The cinematography of the Canadian wilderness gets kudos as well. The film opens with a quick animation presentation by the World Wildlife Federation to set the tone.
Its late one afternoon and the ice melting in Northern Canada and during a run across the snow teenage Luke (Dakota Goyo) upends his snowmobile. That evening his mother Madison (Bridget Moynahan) gets word that the beluga whale project she’s working on in the far north needs her attention. Getting Aunt Rita (Linda Kash) to watch his sister Abbie (Kendra Timmins) and Luke she leaves them in safe hands. That evening a polar bear and her cub Pezoo (Nanuk) walk into their garage and start to search for food. Making a lot of noise Luke goes out to find the huge bear coming out of his garage. After the police take it away he goes inside the garage and finds a bear cub. So begins an adventure that follows Luke trying to return the cub to his mother that has been taken back to the wild.
The adventure that’s portrayed gets very dicey showing the danger Luke gets himself into as he tries to return the Polar Bear cub back to his mother. When he doesn’t return home Inuit trapper Muktuk (Goran Visnjic) gets called in to track Luke down. Directors Roger Spottiswoode (Turner and Hooch) and Brando Quilici (a documentarian) keep their film interesting and compelling as they follow their two main stars Luke played by Dakota Goyo and Pezoo played by Nanuk a polar bear. It’s very tricky filming, but the two directors are up to task as they guide their director of photography across the ice and water of the cold Canadian north. Having shot many documentaries you can see the corollary of Brando’s take on the return of the cub. It’s protagonist against nature and the visuals tell a tense tail of survival and love for the lost animal.
The acting by Dakota Goyo as Luke is very impressive. Under the direction of Spottiswoode and Quilici he shows star quality that not many youngsters in the business have achieved. His role as Max in the film Real Steel opposite Hugh Jackman and Evangeline Lilly brought him to the forefront and has since been remarkable in films like Dark Skies, Thor and Noah. Look for Goyo to become an asset to filmmakers with a good story to tell.
Children that are maturing will love the film for its boldness of the depiction along with Luke’s desire to join the cub with his mother. The message should hit home as a family value. Much like Luke being separated from his mother for long periods of time due to her work in remote areas, he has the burning desire for their reuniting. It gets a little deep for immature preteens, but they should enjoy the fun and even the challenges Luke faces as he brings home the mother bear’s offspring.
The Journey Home has been rated PG by the MPAA for hazardous adventure action, a disturbing image, language and a rude gesture. Please view the film before allowing immature children to see the movie as there’s one scene where Luke comes across a frozen corpse.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A family adventure film that shows determination in the face of danger. (B)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Dakota Goyo, Goran Visnjic, Bridget Moynahan, Kendra Timmins, Linda Kash and Nanuk as Pezoo
Director and writer: Roger Spottiswoode and Brando Quilici
MPAA Rating: PG for hazardous adventure action, a disturbing image, language and a rude gesture
Genre: Adventure, Family
Running Time: 1 hr. 3 min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: November 13, 2014
Video Release Date: September 22, 2015
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
Subtitles: None
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: RLJ Entertainment
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
