In this 1996 sequel, Shadow the Golden Retriever (voiced by Ralph Waite, replacing Don Ameche in the voice-over role), Sassy the Himalayan cat (Sally Field) and Chance the Bulldog (Michael J. Fox) are in en route with their family from their San Francisco home to Canada for a vacation. At the San Francisco airport, Chance becomes startled and causes all three animals to break free from the pet carrier. After escaping the airport, the trio embarks on a Golden Gate adventure in the name of finding their way home again.
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As the trio travels, they meet a pair of dogs: a Bulldog named Pete and his Boxer friend, Ashcan that Chance accidentally bumps. Being bumped into upsets Ashcan to the point they want to turn Sassy into dinner, but a group of dogs dubbed "Riley's Gang" comes to the rescue Riley explains to Shadow that "the city is no place for pets" and together, the group realizes that Chance disappeared as the gang arrived. Riley yells for his friend, Delilah, to help with finding Chance whom she finds in an alley.
Afraid of humans because of the "Blood Red Van" that takes street roaming dogs to the lab, Riley is distrustful of humans and when it comes to helping Sassy, Chance and Shadow find their way home, humans travel on bridges so they would be on their own. As the trio continues making their way home, Chance is picked up by the Blood Red Van, which is ambushed by Riley's Gang. Realizing how much humans mean to the trip, Riley has a change of heart and decides to help them find the bridge.
Best part of story, including ending:
The book on which the movie series is based was required reading for me in middle school and as an animal lover whose heart would break if my pets were ever missing, I enjoyed the fact the pets did try to find their way home. I enjoyed the message of helpfulness and that having a change of heart is a good thing sometimes.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene is when Shadow sees a house on fire and all the animals join together in an effort to rescue a young boy and his kitten. The message of the scene is quite powerful and a lesson that benefits everyone.
Opinion about the main character:
There isn't much not to like about animals in a movie, but if Chance had not been so hyper, this movie's story line would have been a lot different. I have a hyper dog so I could relate quite well to the writers' premise.
