Disney’s Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (they couldn’t get lost in New York, because someone already beat them to that) opened on this day 30 years ago. The original Homeward Bound became my favorite movie ever when it first came out, and was actually my introduction to Michael J. Fox as a kid. When I think of Sally Field’s most iconic role, it’s not Norma Rae, it’s Sassy the cat. So when I saw an ad for it in Disney Channel Magazine (which was a thing), I was of course thrilled. I got to go to very few movies on opening weekend growing up, but for whatever reason, Homeward Bound II was one of them, and it was one of the most packed screenings I had ever been to at that age. It was a great time.

The plot involved…well, the pets got lost again. This time in San Francisco. It’s actually been a long time since I revisited this sequel. I can still recite a lot of the first Homeward Bound by heart, but Homeward Bound II? I guess I just didn’t watch this one as much on home video. So I can’t recall how they got lost in San Francisco. I know there were bad guys (something the original movie didn’t have), and I think they were kidnapping dogs, as bad guys in dog movies typically do. And Chance the dog now had a love interest, just like Beethoven did in Beethoven’s 2nd. I do remember hoping they would make a third one so Chance could have puppies, which sadly never happened.

Given it was the 90s, a new Disney family feature was likely to have a fast food promotion. However, it wasn’t typical for said marketing tie-ins to happen at Hardee’s (or Carl’s Jr., depending on your region). Yes, they used to have toys at Hardee’s (or Carl’s Jr., depending on your region). I think these were the only toys I ever collected from them as a kid. My dad would bring the kid’s meals (oh, excuse me, “Funmeals”) home and if memory serves the fries arrived pretty soggy. But hey, I got all five! Chance! Sassy! Shadow! Chance’s love interest Delilah! And…some red dog! I did play with these quite a lot. They were figurines you could place on wheeled platforms, and I would roll them into each other. And I’m sure that red dog probably had a name. Maybe.

Have a great night, y’all!