Far From Home (The Adventures of Yellow Dog)

Far From Home (The Adventures of Yellow Dog) , released 1995, was a very touching, grueling, heart wrenching and wholesome movie about a family who goes through a tragedy that strengthens their love for each other. Director Phillip Borsos, cast and crew did an excellent film for Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. My husband and I enjoyed watching this movie. Far From Home (The Adventures of Yellow Dog) turned out to be a tear-jerker (will need facial tissue), but unlike many films of its type, this one had a fabulous and surprising happy ending. We applaud the script writer for the perfect ending!

Far From Home (The Adventures of Yellow Dog) tells the story of Angus McCormick (Jesse Bradford), a teenager, who befriends a yellow Labrador Retriever who he names Yellow (expertly played by Dakotah). Very quickly these two become inseparable and Yellow befriends the entire family. Soon after Angus finishes building his own small wooden fishing boat and has installed a survival kit underneath the wooden seat where he had built a storage space, his father, John McCormick (Bruce Davison) invites Angus to join him on a Commercial Fishing Trip.

The farewells are touching and Yellow makes certain to be aboard the Commercial Fishing Boat as a tag along. These two going on this trip is the factor that places them in inclement weather, severe waves, and causes one of the most horrendous thing a family could go through - a boat with family members in it capsizing at sea between two islands in the Northern Pacific. This precipitates a Canadian Search and Rescue, John McCormick being the luckiest person on the planet, and Angus with Yellow doing their best by implementing survival skills Angus learned from his father to survive the harsh northern Canadian wilderness until they are found or they can reach the nearest lighthouse (which ever happens first).

Far From Home (The Adventures of Yellow Dog) holds nothing back regarding the survival techniques; includes the eating of worms and moths. We learned much about survival by watching this. My husband and I found this film informative plus entertaining. The acting of the entire cast was impeccable. Each one played their parts expertly; even Dakotah. This movie had great scenes and special effects, very realistic.

There is a recommendation from Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation that this film be viewed by those 8 years of age or older. This is primarily due to certain survival scenes that younger children may find extremely disturbing; why the PG rating. Parental discretion is highly advised.

Other primary cast (listed in order of credits): Mimi Rogers (Katherine McCormick, Angus's mother), Joel Palmer (Silas McCormick, Angus's younger brother), Tom Bower (John Gale, in charge of the Search and Rescue), Margot Finley (Sara, teenage friend of Angus), Josh Wannamaker (David Finlay), Matt Bennett (Ron Willick), and St. Clair McColl (as himself).

This movie was well worth the 1 hour and 27 minutes in length. The run time of the film seemed shorter than the actual time spent. We were amazed by how quickly the time passed!

Far From Home (The Adventures of Yellow Dog) is available on DVD and VHS. I highly recommend this great survival family movie; especially for those who like a plot that is or could be based on a true story. Enjoy!