Call of the Wild treads a fine line that it only gets away with as it’s a heart-warming story.
It wasn’t long into the film, that the main character, Buck the dog gets treated badly. He is threatened, pulled by the collar and punished for behaving like a dog – any true dog listener might hate this film.
However, Buck finds a new family pulling the mail by sleigh in Alaska. He learns to be led, be part of a pack and become a leader. There is plenty of action and cute doggie moments.
The film is based on a literary classic of the same name written by Jack London in 1903. It heavily relies on animation and CGI – sometimes with too much of a heavy hand. I just wish the script had been updated with the times. There’s more sap than sweet.
Harrison Ford fans won’t be disappointed. Otherwise, leave this one for streaming.
Call of the Wild might make you want to come home and give your dog a hug and appreciate them for being wild animals.
2 stars.
Australian release date: 20 February 2020
About Call of the Wild
Based on the legendary novel of man and dog, Harrison Ford stars in this exciting and heart-warming big-screen adventure for the whole family.
Adapted from the beloved literary classic, THE CALL OF THE WILD vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team–and later its leader–Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master.
As a live-action/animation hybrid, THE CALL OF THE WILD employs cutting edge visual effects and animation technology in order to render the animals in the film as fully photorealistic–and emotionally authentic–characters.
Directed by: Chris Sanders
Based on the novel by Jack London
Screenplay: Michael Green
Produced by: Erwin Stoff
Executive Producer: Diana Pokorny
Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer: Ryan Stafford
Cast: Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, Colin Woodell
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