Anthony's Film Review - The Call of the Wild (2020)

The spirit of Jack London's classic novel is definitely there in this movie...

The Call of the Wild by Jack London is a classic novel that I loved reading. It's a unique kind of literature, centering on an animal rather than a human character. In the story, a dog named Buck is kidnapped from his home and taken up north to the Yukon territory where many prospectors are searching for gold. Buck's encounters with various humans and animals gradually transform him, from a domesticated animal relying on a master for its needs to a wild animal relying on its instincts for survival. I enjoyed the way Jack London portrays the different aspects of an animal's psyche. This would extend to his other classic White Fang, about a canine undergoing the reverse transition from wild animal to beloved household pet.

Now we have the 2020 movie The Call of the Wild, produced by the Disney subsidiary 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox). The first question on many people's minds is whether the movie follows the book. I can say that the answer is, to a certain extent, yes. The beginning and end are certainly from the book. As for the middle, there are definitely some elements from the novel, namely characters such as the French-Canadian sledder Perrault, the rival dog Spitz, and the friendly Thornton. Other parts in the movie might be new, like a daring avalanche escape. (However, note that it's been a while since I read the book.)

Ultimately, all of the human characters are secondary supporting characters. This is true even for John Thornton, played by Harrison Ford. That character is seen in brief moments early on, before becoming Buck's companion adventurer. I will say, though, that he is still the key human in all of this. He is the one who is Buck's true friend, one who understands the animal like no other. That's why he also provides a little voiceover narration about Buck from time to time.

That said, it's all about Buck. About his transformation from household pet to wild animal. Interestingly, you can tell this transformation would happen, because Buck is rather inobedient at times at his home. It's like he's born to roam free, and his circumstances starting with his kidnapping, as unexpected as they are, do allow him to be the animal he naturally is. Then it's just a matter of other things nudging him toward the life of an animal out in the wild.

This movie also has some beautiful visuals. The various dog characters are cool to see. Now, there are moments when you can tell that a dog's actions are computer-generated, particularly when they would be difficult to get a trained animal to do. Still, the dogs come to life. There are also great visuals with the cinematography related to nature's landscapes. There are breathtaking shots of snowy mountains and, later on, springtime forests and rivers. Anyone who loves nature should appreciate this.

In the end, this movie ended up being good. As someone who read the novel, I liked how it brought the spirit of the book to the film. I also appreciated the look of the movie and the performances by the various cast members. So while it's not a phenomenally awesome adaptation of Jack London's classic novel, it still works and it's certainly far from horrible. In my opinion, this movie can appeal to those who loved the novel and to those who just love a good adventure. And perhaps get people curious about Jack London's legendary novel.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about The Call of the Wild, visit the Internet Movie Database.