Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) - This turkey goes woof

♥

 

+ 2nd Worst Movie of the Year

 

 A beautifully made painted poster for David R. Ellis' Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Three pets are on a wild track in San Francisco, California.

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco is written by Chris Hauty (Never Back Down (2008)) and Julie Hickson (Hansel and Gretel (1983, TV movie)) and directed by debuting David R. Ellis (Snakes on a Plane (2006)). It is the sequel to Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993).

There is very little in the way of a story in the slow-going follow-up: Soap commercial-like scenes with people, ('characters' would be overselling them here), coupled with a cleaned up and insipid portrayal of San Francisco and the US overall. And then all the main scenes, of course, with the 'talking' animals, (or telepathically communicating, perhaps, because their mouths don't move.)

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco is uninspired on all levels, but of course the dogs are cute to look at. Alone, though, they don't make this much of a film.

 

Related post:

 

David R. Ellis: Final Destination 2 (2003) - Ellis's sequel is a ridiculous but impressive and entertaining array of wicked mayhem

1996 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: 32.7 mil. $ (North America alone)

= Uncertain

[Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco was released 8 March (USA) and runs 89 minutes. Shooting took place from April - July 1995 in British Columbia, including in Vancouver, and in San Francisco, California. The film opened #2, behind The Birdcage, to an 8.6 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 2 weekends in the top 5 (#3-#4), grossing 32.7 mil. $. The cost figure and international gross numbers are regrettably not known, and so the film's theatrical status cannot be made out. Ellis returned with Final Destination 2 (2003). Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. Voice stars Michael J. Fox (Boston Legal (2006, TV-series)) returned in The Frighteners (1996); Sally Field (Eye for an Eye (1996)) in 6 TV credits prior to her theatrical return in Where the Heart Is (2000). Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco is rotten at 56 % with a 6.10/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco?

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) - Columbus and Robin Williams score with a truly great family jewel

♥♥♥♥♥

+ 2nd Best Movie of the Year

+ Best American Movie of the Year + Best Family Movie of the Year + Best Mega-hit Movie of the Year + Best Poster of the Year + Most Profitable Movie of the Year: 151.48 mil. $ range + Best San Francisco Movie of the Year  

The wonderful trickster-poster for Chris Columbus' Mrs. Doubtfire

When the nuclear Hillard family breaks up, because the mother can no longer live with her husband's reckless, impulsive behavior, he is only allowed to visit their kids on Saturdays. But, because of his immense love for them, he finds another way to get to be a part of their lives ... - as their English housekeeper Mrs. Doubtfire!

Mrs. Doubtfire was a sensational worldwide hit in 1993, in which it was only bested by Jurassic Park!
The film is a testament to Robin Williams' (Good Will Hunting (1997)) formidable talent and range as both a divine comedian and a very gifted dramatic actor. He totally pulls off the journey his character goes through; the child-like father, the way he is dethroned and finds an opening, which he pursues vehemently due to his desperation and love. Rarely has a screen character's fight for anything been more shared with its audience than Daniel/Doubtfire/Williams' struggle to be with his children and fight for the survival of his family in Mrs. Doubtfire.
But Mrs. Doubtfire is also a film that works in general: It's a case of unassuming, brilliant casting for one thing:
Sally Field (Lincoln (2012)) is perfect as the unreasonable, modern woman, who plows her way out of the family instead of simply trying a bit harder to make it work. Behind her very realistic portrayal are the three kids, who are all great and totally believable as Williams and Field's kids; adorable Mara Wilson (Mathilda (1996)) takes quite a few laughs because of her sincere, childish reactions in the film. In other parts, we see endearing Robert Prosky (Last Action Hero (1993)), Pierce Brosnan (Love Is All You Need/Den Skaldede Frisør (2012)), who is fun as the inhibited British Stu, and Harvey Fierstein (Bullets over Broadway (1994)) as Daniel's brother: He and Scott Capurro (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), voice) play the gay couple, and overplay the exuberance a bit, but it's nice to see an accepted, well-functioning gay couple play a positive part of a major family movie in any case.

The details:

The film also has an accentuating, fine score by Howard Shore (The Departed (2006)), which heightens the strong, emotional scenes that, especially towards the film's end, makes me more than a bit misty-eyed.
The film is written by Randi Mayem Singer (Tooth Fairy (2010)) and Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday (2003)), based on the 1987 novel Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine (Jennifer's Diary (1996)). It is directed by family movie specialist Chris Columbus (Home Alone (1990)), who is soon premiering his funny-looking new movie Pixels (2015), in which video games attack earth... - Check out its trailer here.
Mrs. Doubtfire is one of those movies that made the late Williams known and beloved the world over, not least by the children he made laugh and moved with his compassion and humanity. Here with a story that holds some real relevance for many children of broken families. The film speaks to them; it speaks some truth and it doesn't sugarcoat the reality or erase all the problems in the end.
It's a wonderful, very funny and touching film.

 

Related post:

 

1993 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess  

Mara Wilson is a joy to behold in Chris Columbus' Mrs. Doubtfire

Watch the film's trailer here

Cost: 25 mil. $
Box office: 441.2 mil. $
= Huge hit
[Mrs. Doubtfire earned its own budget ... - In the UK alone! (20.9 mil. £) The film made 219.1 mil. $ in the States (50 % of the total gross) and so was a big hit on a global scale. It also won an Oscar for Best Makeup.]

What do you think of Mrs. Doubtfire?
Other great family films that deal with separation and/or divorce?