Film Review: "The Call of the Wild" (2020).

"Based on the legendary novel" comes The Call of the Wild. This adventure film directed by Chris Sanders, in his live-action directorial debut, adapted by Michael Green, and based on the Jack London 1903 literary classic. Adapted from the beloved literary classic, the film 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 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.

In October 2017, it was announced that 20th Century Fox was developing the film adaptation of London's classic novel, with Sanders as director and Green penning the adaptation. In July 2018, Harrison Ford set to star as John Thornton. By late September, Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, and Terry Notary were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Santa Clarita, California. In January 2019, it was announced that John Powell will compose the film's score. MPC Montréal provided the film's visual effects. The film's producers chose to go with a CGI canine in order to give him a fuller range of emotion and expression as well as to avoid putting any real dogs at risk of being injured or frightened in this tale of overcoming hardships in a harsh environment. The fully CGI model of Buck is a digital scan of Buckley, a real dog that Sanders' wife, Jessica Steele-Sanders, adopted from an Emporia, Kansas animal shelter during production. By the time post production wrapped, the film had a $125–150 million budget.

The film stars Ford, Stevens, Sy, Gillan, Whitford, and Notary. Despite being no Clark Gable, Ford acts with pure soul here (he also narrates the film with his lovely storybook growl); it's a minimalist performance, mostly very reactive, but the saintly gruffness of Ford’s thick-gray-bearded, sad-eyed presence helps to nudge Buck to life as a character. The cast does quietly powerful work as London's beloved characters, but their computer-generated co-star looks weird.

I don't know whether or not 20th Century Fox (or 20th Century Studios now) meant it that way, but its adaptation of London's The Call of the Wild is certainly a comedy. Thanks to its obviously laughable CGI canine hero. At any rate, London must be whirling in his grave. You are better off squinting your eyes and blurring out the effects (it's not only Buck - all the dogs, squirrels, wolves and bears are computer-generated). While the use of CGI sometimes creates distracting moments, the overall story is well-told enough to keep audiences hooked. The film is still a reverent and unsentimental portrait of a dog's life. The film is slightly preposterous, but it's still good entertainment. It is a perfectly serviceable family film.

Simon says Call of the Wild receives:

Also, see my review for The Croods.