A boy and his father rescue an orphaned Cheetah in South Africa. They raise Duma with the intention of one day returning him to the wild. Unfortunately, the father dies and the mother decides they cannot remain on their farm and need to move to the city. But what of Duma? The cheetah is supposed to be transported to a game reserve but escapes and the boy, Xan, decides (very impulsively) to take off across the South African wilderness to take Duma to a place where it can be free. The problem is that Xan is an idiot...and the country HUGE and forbidding. And, because it's a family movie you know that somehow despite Nile Crocs, lions, hippos, poisonous snakes, starvation, dehydration and much more that somehow it will all work out in the end...that's just the sort of uplifting film this is.
In so many ways, the movie reminds me of the Australian flick "Walkabout" but with a different locale. Both involve kids surviving in the wild as well as meeting up with folks who help them along their way. And, overall, I'd say the two films are about equal in appeal, though Xan was an incredibly impulsive and stupid boy. There also were a few parts that didn't make a lot of sense-- such as when he discovered food and civilization yet continued on his trek and the talky and preachy finale!
In so many ways, the movie reminds me of the Australian flick "Walkabout" but with a different locale. Both involve kids surviving in the wild as well as meeting up with folks who help them along their way. And, overall, I'd say the two films are about equal in appeal, though Xan was an incredibly impulsive and stupid boy. There also were a few parts that didn't make a lot of sense-- such as when he discovered food and civilization yet continued on his trek and the talky and preachy finale!