The Call Of The Wild Review: An Entertaining Watch with Spectacular Cinematography

Director: Chris Sanders
Cast: Karen Gillan, Harrison Ford, Cara Gee, Jean Louisa Kelly, Dan Stevens, Bradley Whitford
Rating: PG
Running time: 99 mins
Release date: 19/02/2020

Jack London’s 1903 short story THE CALL OF THE WILD has been a much-filmed source material and as early as 1923 was the subject of a silent version. Even the likes of Charlie Brown and co via the Peanuts cartoon have used it in a Snoopy TV special, WHAT A NIGHTMARE, CHARLIE BROWN and it also was adapted into a 1972 film version starring Charlton Heston, which was filmed in Finland.

Thanks to the advancement of digital technology in film-making, coupled with the success of recent movies like THE JUNGLE BOOK and THE LION KING, we now have a brand new version of the classic tale, directed by Chris Sanders and adapted by writer Michael Green.

Now that his part in the ‘Skywalker Saga’ is over, with only his swansong as Indiana Jones imminent to remind us of the incredible blockbuster success we have all enjoyed for over four decades, Harrison Ford is very much of an age where he can become an elder statesman of film acting – and with THE CALL OF THE WILD, he is clearly getting a chance to relish some older parts alongside the likes of De Niro and Pacino who have enjoyed recent success with THE IRISHMAN.

However, Ford is merely part of the spine that drives this new adaptation of London’s novel, which remains faithful to the original material, set in 1890 with the lead protagonist not a human, but a well-rendered digital St. Bernard by the name of Buck. He’s an over-energetic and enthusiastic pet who more than makes a mess throughout his home life and is kicked out of the Californian family home he inhabits, presided over by Judge Miller (Bradley Whitford), more than enough.

The adventure begins when he is kidnapped for money and ends up in the vast Yukon peninsula – and it is here he meets initially gold prospector John Thornton (Ford) who pats him affectionately, before Buck is recruited to help pull the postal sleigh alongside other dogs to the distant Alaskan / Yukon town of Dawson.

Buck’s immense size and energy becomes a source of irritation to one of the other dogs and a stand-off happens, but he finds his place amongst the pack and his value to the postal service is good. Unfortunately, progress intervenes – and the pack of dogs become surplus and are snapped up by a ruthless gold hunter, who threatens to shoot Buck. Thornton interjects – and an adventure and destiny awaits for the pair as they travel into the mountains to find the spirit of the world…..

Audiences may take a bit of time to get used to the motion-capture animals, but once you settle into the rhythm of the piece, the film grows to become a heart-warming tale of one man and his dog. Aside from his work in STAR WARS, we can safely say that this version of THE CALL OF THE WILD is Harrison Ford’s most family-friendly film and the perfect family entertainment that Disney is renowned for – a good companion piece to the likes of THE JUNGLE BOOK and THE LION KING.

Related post: After Life 2 Release Date & First Look Images Revealed

It also harks back to those 1970s adventure films like THE ADVENTURES OF THE WILDERNESS FAMILY, WHEN THE NORTH WIND BLOWS and THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRIZZLY ADAMS which a previous generation lapped up on visits to the cinema back then. The Grizzly Adams influence is clearly there in Ford’s appearance, looking as he does like he was in the early moments of his blockbuster film THE FUGITIVE (1993)

Perhaps Disney are sensing that this type of adventure is going to return to the fold. It does remind one of films like their TRUE-LIFE ADVENTURES and THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY, as well as that Christmas family favourite LASSIE COME HOME.

Suitably entertaining, with great rural vistas, spectacular cinematography by Spielberg collaborator Janusz Kaminski (SCHINDLER’S LIST amongst others) and admirable visual effects, THE CALL OF THE WILD is another winning version of the Jack London novel.

Will you be watching the film when it arrives in cinemas? As always, we like to know your thoughts, so leave a comment below, tweet us @filmandtvnow or drop us a comment on our Facebook page.

Please follow and like us: