When the local pit in a Yorkshire mining village closes, Lassie's owners have no choice but to sell their dog to the local landowner. Then the Duke takes her away to his Scottish estate. But Lassie will go to any lengths to be reunited with her beloved boy, even if it means walking all the way from Scotland, running into obstacles at every turn.

Sturridge's screenplay is a relatively simple affair, that works because of its' simplicity. I was expecting an incredibly mawkish children's film that tries to imprint human emotions onto animals. So I was surprised to find myself being sucked into this strangely compelling shaggy dog story. It's presented almost in a quest format. First we see our heroine in her natural habitat, amongst those she loves. Then fate (or in this case economics) intervenes and takes her to a far away land. After which she must overcome apparently unending trials in her attempts to regain her lost love. The fact that the heroine happens to be a dog is almost by-the-by. There's no attempt to humanise the canine superstar by suggesting her drive to get home is anything more than instinct. It's the reactions she provokes in people that add human interest to the story. Some of the episodes are romantic (like the couple who meet thanks to Lassie), some funny (the Glaswegian dog catchers chase sequence) and others rather touching (the travelling showman). They all work because they have a beginning, a middle and an end and enough thrills and spills to keep the kids happy. There are also a few laughs thrown in to stop it being too earnest and this makes it all the more endearing. Though this is a kids' film, some more adult themes are touched on. A social context is added by juxtaposing the rich and poor. But though the rich have big houses and flash cars, the film is adamant that some things can't be bought (namely love and wilful dogs). Unemployment, war and death are all dealt with, but are seen from a child's perspective as big, almost abstract concepts with concrete outcomes but no clear cause. Some of the dialogue may surprise grown-ups because one or two swear-words sneak in, but it fits the context of the story. And you may want to check how many puppies appear at the end because the script and reality don't seem to tally.

Jonathan Mason, who plays Joe gives a lovely, unaffected performance; you really believe in his love for the dog and his grief at losing her. He has a wonderfully expressive face and his eyes in particular are able to convey a wide range of emotions. He also manages to hold his own opposite established names. His female counter part, played by Hester Odgers is a more stereotypical stage school child; photogenic, slightly posh and very sure of herself. But her self-importance works well for the part of upper-class Priscilla, born with a sense of entitlement.

Steve Pemberton from "The League of Gentlemen" plays the brillantined bad guy Hynes with glee. As soon as you see him, you know he's bad and want him to get his come-uppance. He practically oozes slime. He's a rather two-dimensional character, so Pemberton plays him in panto villain style; all bulging eyes and snarling speech. Though simplistic, his performance is nonetheless effective and it will have the audience booing him.

Some big names in British acting prove the pup's enduring popularity by taking small supporting roles. Gregor Fisher is on fine comic form as a jobsworth dog-catcher. Kelly MacDonald is sweet as the girl that tries to save Lassie from the dog pound. Nicholas Lyndhurst plays against type as a nasty poacher. Robert Hardy shows great comic timing as a judge and Edward Fox is surprisingly funny as a distracted monster hunter.

The score by Adrian Johnston adds to Lassie's status as legend by giving her a big orchestral soundtrack. The foreboding kettle drums, heartfelt Celtic pipes and exciting string motifs backed by pounding drums are suitable accompaniments to the sweeping vistas of the film. You can almost trace Lassie's journey solely through the music as Scottish bagpipes give way to leaping flutes as she gets closer to home.