Balto: Wolf Quest (2002) (V)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Phil Weinstein

Writer:

Dev Ross (writer)

Release Date:

19 February 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Animation

Tagline:

The adventures of a true American hero continue

Plot:

Balto and his daughter Aleu embark on a journey of adventure and self discovery. |

Plot Keywords:

Daughter | Father | Ice | Father Daughter Relationship | Bear

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Maurice LaMarche	...	Balto (voice)
Jodi Benson	...	Jenna (voice)
Lacey Chabert	...	Aleu (voice)
David Carradine	...	Nava the Wolf Shaman (voice)
Mark Hamill	...	Niju the Evil Wolf (voice)
Charles Fleischer	...	Boris (voice)
Peter MacNicol	...	Muru (voice)
Rob Paulsen	...	Terrier / Sumac / Wolverine 2 (voice)
Nicolette Little	...	Dingo (voice)
Melanie Spore	...	Saba (voice)
Kevin Schon	...	Muc / Luc / Wolverine 1 (voice)
Joe Alaskey	...	Hunter / Nuk (voice)
Monnae Michaell	...	Aniu (voice)
Mary Kay Bergman	...	Fox / Wolverine 3 (voice)
Jeff Bennett	...	Yak (voice)

Runtime:

Russia:75 min | USA:76 min | Argentina:78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Brazil:Livre | South Korea:All | Australia:G | Germany:o.Al. | USA:G

Company:

Universal Cartoon Studios

Trivia:

The original script was slightly longer, so some scenes were shortened.

Goofs:

Continuity: At some points of the movie, Nava's ears are the same color as his body, and not darkened as they should be.

Quotes:

Balto: I've led a dog team before, but never a wolf pack.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Eye of the Beast (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Taking You Home

Better than first expected

After seeing the commercials for this movie a bunch of times while watching TV, they only imply that this is one of those cute, kiddy, been-there-done-that film that non-Disney studios pop out once every month to combat the giant Disney empire. However, while actually watching this film, it turns out to be something completely different.

This film is *gasp* actually pretty good, and is easily better than the first!

The story, in a nutshell, is that our hero, Balto, had babies. While most of the pups look like their mother, one of them looks more like a wolf than a dog. She grows up and is unable to accept the fact she is more wolf-like than dog-like, then runs away. (She doesn't like being dominated by her father.) Meanwhile, both of them have the same dream filled with ice, a raven, caribou, and wolves. Well, both of them embark on a journey that manages to include all elements of the two dreams, then runs into a pack of wolves who must either leave the land they lived on for years or starve to death. Balto's daughter realizes her destiny is to leave her family and lead the wolves. Balto understands and lets her leave.

Yeah, I make it sound generic, but believe me, IT IS NOT! This film may be one of many that feature the "journey to find oneself" theme, but it succeeds extremely well! The message is deep, and the presentation is haunting with a little bit of comedy mixed in (the comedy is quite ordinary, so that may explain why the commercial makes the movie look so generic.) Add a great voice acting with talents such as Mark Hamill, Rob Paulsen, Jodi Benson etc., and you've got what may be the best direct-to-video animated motion picture ever made.