ALL ROADS LEAD HOME: DVD

SYNOPSIS:
After 12 year old Belle (Viven Cardone) loses her mother in an automobile accident. Her father struggles with the loss of his wife and trying to raise his young daughter who believes her father, Cody (Jason London) is partly responsible for her mother's death. Belle's maternal grandfather Hock Banyon (Peter Coyote) is a changed man since losing his daughter in the accident. He finds it difficult to have a relationship with Belle since she is a constant reminder of her mother. It is Atticus the new puppy who will change Belle's life and the lives of those who love her.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:
Notable for a wonderful farewell performance by veteran actor Peter Boyle (playing an eccentric motel manager), this movie about a family who is first damaged by an accidental death and healed by an accidental discovery, is inspired by a true story. It begins with a puppy christened Atticus by Belle (Viven Cardone), whose mother always read to her from To Kill a Mockingbird. When her mother is killed in a car accident, Belle and her grandfather, commercial farmer Hock Banyon (Peter Coyote) both blame Belle's father Cody (Jason London) for differing reasons.

The story evolves as Belle spends time on Hock's farm, while Cody, an animal ranger, begins a romance with the vet, Lillian (Vanessa Branch). As Belle remains a thorny problem, Lillian is stumped by a series of mysterious dog deaths in the region.

Things come to a head when Belle runs away, critical of Hock's culling policy which sees commercially unfit animals put down. But when Atticus unexpectedly launches an unprovoked attack on Hock's farm hand, Basham (Evan Parke), Belle herself recognises that the dog has to be put down. And just when things look hopeless, Cody and Lillian discover the cause of the mysterious deaths, which has other implications.

Dennis Fallon handles the material with care and sensitivity, avoids getting mawkish but allows sentiment to filter through, and is superbly served by a top cast. Peter Boyle steals his scenes, Peter Coyote is gruffly solid and credible, Jason London is effective as the young widowed father, while Vanessa Branch makes a likeable and sensitive Lillian.

Published April 30, 2009