The Call of the Wild

One of the last films distributed by the late Twentieth Century Pictures was their take on Jack London's novel The Call of the Wild. This year, the first film by the newly renamed Twentieth Century Studios is another take on the same novel. Let's see how it is.

During the Gold Rush, Buck the Dog was Judge Miller's (Bradley Whitford) pampered pooch. Dognappers take him and sell him up to the Yukon. Buck is sold as a sled dog to mailcarriers Perault (Omar Sy) and Francoise (Cara Gee). Buck asserts himself against the mean Alpha Dog, Spitz, and becomes the new top dog. And then, the mail route is cancelled.

It's about halfway into the 100 minute runtime that we're really introduced to its narrator - John Thornton (Harrison Ford). He and Buck met a few times during the film. But Thornton finally becomes relevant when he liberates Buck from his new and incompetent owners. Thornton decides to go off the map with Buck and explore whatever wilderness comes their way. Buck finds a wolf pack and decides to join them.

Oh yes, remember the new and incompetent owners Thornton liberated Buck from? One of them, Hal (Dan Stevens), decides to follow them into the wild with murderous gold fever.

This marks the live-action and solo directorial debut of Chris Sanders (Lilo and Stitch, How to Train your Dragon). The screenplay by Michael Green probably could've used a different narrator. We get Buck's adventures narrated by someone he really meets halfway through. And at the end, you'll wonder how he even narrated them at all. It ends up making their eventual meeting too long coming. Along the way, we get some captivating character plots that are never addressed again. Perhaps that's a consequence of it adapting an episodic novel.

Buck's CGI realization may make or break the film. He's a very expressive dog; so expressive, one may expect him or his sled mates to start talking. They don't. But we feel for him when abusive humans threaten him. We also laugh when he acts roughly or hides Thornton's liquor. On the other hand, his CGI is sometimes too obvious. Still, his expressive face justifies the CGI.

The realization of the 1800s makes great use of CGI and production designer Stefan Dechant's sets. A few standout scenes include Buck's outmaneuvering an avalanche, his rescue of Francoise from a frozen river and his battle with Spitz. Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski helps create the stunning nature views. The action is set to another strong score by John Powell.

What about the human cast? To start, Ford is likable as an old outdoorsman who learns to embrace company. Stevens is perfectly detestable as Hal; his companions, Mercedes (Karen Gillian) and Charles (Colin Woodell), start off as unlikable idiots before their sanity kicks in. Sy and Gee are likable as Perrault and Francois. One of the best bit characters is Edenshaw (Michael Horse), who intervenes when Hal tries to beat up Thornton.

The Call of the Wild has to deal with its slightly uneven tone. It goes from silly to serious somewhat quickly. Buck's abduction and cruel treatment is very terrifying. The introduction of the ragtag bunch of losers that make up most of his sled team is silly. I could go on, but I can't. It's nowhere as rough as the novel, and some of its most questionable elements are gone. The most basic story is still present despite the changes. It's still an epic adventure story about a dog discovering his inner wolf. See it at any price.