The return of Red Dog. It’s been five years since the initial movie appeared, and honestly, I never thought a film like that would get a sequel. The first one was inspired by actual events, but this isn't; it's actually a prequel exploring Red’s early life – his origins, his owner, etc. While we don’t know the true story, it seems they were eager for another installment after the success of 'Red Dog', leading to this fictionalized account. It simply isn't as good as the first one, not even close. It feels like they tried to cram in every possible element to appeal to everyone. It resembles something like ‘Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove,’ with comedy, adventure, a Chinese character, an aboriginal legend, a storm, and of course, those carefully timed emotional moments. The director and writer are the same, but sadly, not the dog. The original star, Koko, passed away shortly after the first film's release. It was quite upsetting to hear that, just as it was moving watching him in the movie – one of the best dog films I’ve ever seen, and a real tearjerker too. Naturally, I wanted to see this one as well, but I knew it wouldn’t surpass its predecessor, so I kept my expectations low. The new dog, Phoenix, performed admirably, though his role was less substantial. The level of effort, dedication, and performance were all impressive – he's incredibly adorable. In fact, I felt a pang of discomfort whenever he ran alongside the motorbike; it seemed unnatural, although I suspect there were multiple takes to achieve that shot. The story is told from a boy’s perspective, detailing his relationship with Red, who was originally named Blue. > ❝True blackness has a power all of its own. It doesn't just swallow light. It's like it swallows your soul.❞ I wasn’t fond of the opening scene; I found it quite ordinary and initially assumed it would be a bad film. However, things quickly picked up once the flashback began – it felt like an entirely different movie. The entire narrative is presented as a recollection; more like a bedtime story. A father recounts to his son about the dog he lived with when he was younger, staying at his grandfather’s place in rural Australia. He describes how they found each other and grew up together, their friendship, mischief, and various adventures. Then, all of Blue's life events are revealed. The screenplay was average, but the performances really saved the film. The boy actor, the dog, and all the supporting cast were very good. The locations were also fantastic; just like in the first movie, it’s an ideal setting. Overall, the film was enjoyable, although the ending was quite emotional. Those who saw the original will likely have a sense of what to expect at the end, even if they don't know exactly how it will unfold. I anticipated something similar, but wasn’t prepared for the level of sentimentality. The movie concludes on a high note and connects seamlessly with where the first film began, creating a nice flow. One thing that didn’t quite work was the inclusion of unnecessary supernatural elements. I understand the story is set in the Pilbara region and incorporates local legends to expand the plot, but the wildfire scene felt excessive and pulled the focus away from the central narrative. That segment wasn't clearly explained either. Now, the big question: does the story of Red/Blue end here, or can we expect more prequels and sequels? I’m not thrilled about this fictionalized version; it risks misleading fans of the original film. They really should have included a disclaimer at the beginning stating that it wasn't based on true events. Aside from that, it’s a decent addition to the 'Red Dog' series. Ultimately, it’s a good movie, but not the best. _7/10_

Source on TMDB