Somewhere Out There

While relatively realistic and mature in terms of direction, writing, tone, visuals, and dialogue, I love The Journey of Natty Gann (1985). From its acting (especially from Meredith Salenger and John Cusack) and the late James Horner's score to Disney's bravery at the time in releasing such a grown-up movie like this. This film took me by complete surprise as it didn't feel sanitized in terms of atmosphere and character interactions like today's live-action films from Disney, but rather embraced the gritty, rough-and-tumble, and even shady sides of humans during the Great Depression. I wish that today's Disney would take more risks with their live-action films as they once did with this one.

The Journey of Natty Gann revolves around Natty (played by Meredith Salenger), a teenage girl with a rough-and-tumble tomboy attitude and a heart of gold from Great Depression-era Chicago. After her beloved father (played by Ray Wise) leaves for work in the Pacific Northwest as a lumberjack but missed her before getting to say goodbye to her, Natty embarks on a quest of trials and tribulations to reunite with him. Along the way, she strikes up a friendship with a wolfdog whom she nicknames "Wolf" and a fellow traveler named Harry (played by John Cusack).

The acting here is stellar. The amount of heart, vulnerability, and tenacity seamlessly Salenger brings to her performance as Natty makes her one of the most underrated protagonists in a live-action Disney film. With his young Marlon Brando-like rebel attitude and charisma, Cusack serves as a trustworthy mentor figure to Natty, especially when avoiding the police during raids of hobo camps and sleazy individuals willing to turn her in or even take advantage of her. Wise's warm, protective, and working man demeanor as Natty's father grounds the film just well enough to appeal to everyone and gives off a charisma that is almost akin to a performance by Frank Sinatra.

This movie's full-hearted embrace of the Depression-era setting is incredible, from the use of weathered and run-down buildings to the breath-taking mountains and forests and the warm film-like color palette. I found these technical aspects refreshing because it was evident that the filmmakers shot this movie like a genuine period piece instead of like a children's film of the day. I am also a little frustrated about present-day Disney's tendency to sanitize their period films by toning down the language, dialogue, and social norms at the time like casual smoking. Speaking of language, there is a surprising amount of PG-13-level swear words in this movie. However, I did not take issue with this, for I was so immersed in the real world that I forgot that I was watching a Disney movie. The late James Horner's score is sweeping in scale and maintains an A-picture sound while never pandering to a specific audience demographic.

Pacing-wise, there is a real sense of time passing in this movie as Natty travels by foot, car, and train to reunite with her father, highlighting the audience's rooting for her to succeed. From hopping freight trains and hitchhiking to escaping an all-girl reform school, Natty's resourcefulness and perseverance shine the brightest as she always finds the will to pick herself right back up and accept the help of others along the way. Additionally, as a train enthusiast, there are plenty of lengthy sequences featuring steam trains in this movie filmed up in Canada, which is a win in my book.

This movie's ending has the same (if not, similar) level of emotional satisfaction as the one for The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Just when everything appears to be lost, fate (or in this case, the screenwriter) intervenes, and Natty is reunited with her father. On that note, the movie ends, and the credits begin to roll. While the movie could have gone on for a little longer for an epilogue, the decision to end the film at its emotional height is, in the bigger picture, a smart one. Now, if Disney could take a break from remaking their animated classics and create more original and heart-warming classics like this one, I will put nearly all my grievances with the company aside.

Final Score: 10 out of 10