i haven not see the original incredible journey since i be a child and so i can not really compare the two version . this version tell the story of three animal and two dog and a cat and whose owner leave them with friend in the countryside when the father of the family have to take a new job in san francisco . the pet and believe that they have be abandon and escape and set out on a long homeward journey through wilderness . this story might have be most easily film a a cartoon and but both version be in fact live action film make use real animal . one major difference be that in the late version the animal speak in human voice and give each it own distinct personality and something that be not do in the original film . ( a similar device of talk animal have be use in other recent child film such a race stripe ) . some critic have be rather sniffy about the use of this device and but my own view be that give the animal distinctive personality of their own help to strengthen the film rather than weaken it . the animal be voice by big name star and don ameche and michael j. fox and sally field . both dog be male and and their relationship parallel that between many human in buddy buddy movie . shadow and a golden retriever and be the wise and experienced old dog while chance the young one be brash and cocky and impulsive . to british eye chance look like a boxer and but be actually an american bulldog and which be apparently a different breed to it british cousin . sassy the cat be female with a rather prim and proper personality . she be very proud of her status a a cat and which in her eye make her vastly superior to any mere dog . ( cats rule and dog drool . ) . from an adult viewpoint the film have a number of fault while it can be sentimental and some of the incident ( such a the one in which the animal manage to catapult a mountain lion into the river ) be quite incredible and and the human character be all completely forgettable . this and however and be a film which be mainly aim at child and and i suspect they will enjoy it immensely . certainly and any animal loving child will do so . ( comment by some professional critic such a james berardinelli and who complain that the animal voice lessen the film grandeur and only serve to strengthen my view that professional critic be not always the best guide to child movie . i doubt if many playground conversation about homeward bound concentrate on it suppose grandeur ) . one thing adult will appreciate be the photography of california sierra nevada mountain . they may also appreciate the film blend of humour and excitement a the runaway pet encounter peril such a bear and mountain lion and porcupine in the wilderness . this be a very enjoyable family film . positive .