Mist: The Tale Of A Sheepdog Puppy DVD Review

Mist is not your average animal-centered, family film. It is more of a puppet show than a play because, unlike movies such as the Homeward Bound series, Mist puts words to the actions on screen instead of including them as part of the action. The characters do not move their mouths, but are presented as normal animals who communicate telepathically. This not only creates a more realistic feeling as kids would imagine, but also puts more pressure on the editing to tell the story. Fortunately, the editing succeeds in its task and is able to tell an interesting story with help from the character voice over. This is a delightful little tale that hits on all the right notes. However, its low-budget and home-movie feel hinders it somewhat. The story of Mist has been told many times before, most familiarly in The Lion King. Mist, a puppy on an English farm, has big dreams of becoming a sheepherder. She finds encouragement from many of her older relatives, who are already sheepherders, especially Sir Gregory. He is the first one to believe in Mist and he tells her the heart of what it takes to be a good sheepdog. The determined puppy is allowed to stay on the farm for training as her siblings are shipped off. She then goes out into the fields to practice rounding up sheep and the like. Little does she know, Fern, an older sheepdog, is conspiring to crush her dreams by sending her off into danger too soon. With Sir Gregory gone, Mist must find a way to conquer her fears and face the menacing rams alone to become a true sheepdog.

Even though this film has a predictable storyline, it is still entertaining to watch. The voice acting combined with the editing really draws you into the character and makes you care about Mist’s journey. The stakes are very real and are communicated both visually and in dialogue. Fern is a worthy antagonist, and though she is somewhat of a cardboard cutout, she does have her saving qualities. Each dog has its own personality and its own quirks. The acting is not very complex, but considering that Mist is a kid’s movie, this does not hurt the film at all. In fact, for a kid’s movie, Mist is quite entertaining. It has great messages about working hard for your dreams and never giving up on your journey to achieving them. The animals are very cute and non-threatening. The voices are characteristic cartoon voices, familiar to younger audiences. It is just wholesome entertainment.

The low production value is very clear in the film. Overall, it feels as if the filmmakers just filmed life on the farm and constructed a story out of it. For example, the segment where we see sheep giving birth has nothing to do with Mist’s tale, but is an excuse to show more cute animals. It is also obvious that most of the scenes are given meaning simply by the voice over and the footage just happened to fit in as part of the story. Some of the attempted comedy, like that of the dog Jake, falls flat and comes of as frantic and annoying. And when the humans come into the picture, it is clear that they are more of stand-ins than actors. However, these flaws are forgivable and do not ruin the overall experience.

Mist is a great little kid’s movie. It is not as memorable as many that are out there, but it constitutes wholesome afternoon entertainment.

Unfortunately, there are no extras that accompany the film except some previews for other Allumination FilmWorks films.