This isn't bad at all with a solid turn from ever-reliable Tim Dalton and a fascinating chance to see the later-iconic Katharine Isabelle (Ginger from Ginger Snaps) acting as a child – she's good here too. The scenery is wonderful, the animals cute and well-trained, and the idea is clever and original. Because it is so unusual, I'm not going to say anything about the plot – best way to watch this is if you have no idea at all what's going to happen.
There's no shortage of clichéd situations and heavy-handed emotional messages, but it's no worse than many films of this type and better than a lot. The action moves along well, the dialog is neat, and you won't be bored.
The script lets itself down badly towards the end though. A strong message throughout has been: if kids want to do something worthwhile (and what these kids want to do is amazing!) then let them try and don't shut them away from all risk. But when, in the climax, things inevitably get exciting, the kids are given hardly anything to do and that message gets ruined. Jo in particular, who has driven the whole story, is reduced by adversity to little more than a wailing spectator. There was just no need for this – the kids could easily have handled all the hero stuff and left the adults to help one another.
There's no shortage of clichéd situations and heavy-handed emotional messages, but it's no worse than many films of this type and better than a lot. The action moves along well, the dialog is neat, and you won't be bored.
The script lets itself down badly towards the end though. A strong message throughout has been: if kids want to do something worthwhile (and what these kids want to do is amazing!) then let them try and don't shut them away from all risk. But when, in the climax, things inevitably get exciting, the kids are given hardly anything to do and that message gets ruined. Jo in particular, who has driven the whole story, is reduced by adversity to little more than a wailing spectator. There was just no need for this – the kids could easily have handled all the hero stuff and left the adults to help one another.