By: Keaton Marcus

There have been a few adaptations of Jack London's classic novel, but the 2020 edition of "The Call of the Wild" brings Buck to the big screen with special effects galore, but uneven storytelling keeps it from being more than another diversion for younger audiences. Sure, there are a few intense moments that keep it more for the older kids, but it is overall a tame adventure. While the newest remake does have A-lister Harrison Ford in the picture, he takes the chunk of the film that isn't nearly as entertaining as the first half. Despite having an underwhelming conclusion though, the flick has its moments and the positives such as the visuals and the swashbuckling feel of the opening hour do commonly outweigh its many flaws. It's only about 100 minutes long, and despite many computer-generated scenes being thrilling, the unnecessary digitization of the film's canine hero lets it down. There's fun to be had, just not enough of it.

The movie kicks off with a dog named Buck, living in a lavish mansion down in the countryside with a wealthy family. Harrison Ford also narrates, explaining that Buck isn't spoiled or poor, and has been through both. However, when some men trick the dog and kidnap him, Buck is traveled to Yukon by boat, where he's never been before to become a sled dog. The fun really begins when Buck is put in the delivery service, led by a kind man named Perrault (an excellent Omar Sy). And as he gradually becomes more experienced, the canine ends a leader for the others. But that concludes when Perrault gets a note that their mail route has been terminated, which is when Buck meets John Thorton (the grumpy Harrison Ford). John and Buck then decide to travel where nobody's been before. The movie begins a fast-paced ride but then concludes to a slow, mildly exciting adventure.

I would call the performances a true mixed bag, some impressed me, others didn't meet the quota. As I noted in the previous paragraph, Omar Sy gave the best showcase in the picture, delivering most of the humor and having natural chemistry both with Buck and his companion Françoise (Cara Gee with a solid outing). What really didn't work was Harrison Ford's time on screen, and while the guy tried his hardest, Michael Green's script and Chris Sanders' direction didn't match up. Ford was advertised as the main role, which could have been great, but Sy and Gee stole the show. The canine, as you know, was computer-generated, which didn't exactly help the movie's case (bumping up the cost to 135 million)--but Sanders does add some heart into the doggy. Audiences may be able to tell Buck is fake, and it's very uncalled for, but the cinema will get a kick out of the gags and misadventures of the large dog.

This "Call of the Wild" is a perfect example of how VFX can only take a production so far, and one of the few things keeping it from sinking is the enjoyable first half. It is worth the price of admission, but not much more than that, which is disappointing. I mean, an adventure film starring Harrison Ford, based on an acclaimed novel should have been better than this. Especially since Ford is done with the "Star Wars" franchise. Overall, this is a largely hit-or-miss affair, feeling more mechanical than free, yet having just enough soul to pull it out of disaster. The movie could either be a massive hit, or a complete bomb in the box office, depending on families' decision to let their kids go or not. A sequel won't happen, but for a family film, this harmless movie is a fine excuse to go to the multiplex during the weekend.

The final opinion is: Chris Sanders' take on "The Call of the Wild" benefits from strong visual effects, and a couple notable performances for a decent, but largely uneven execution of the classic novel...$KIP IT

Rent for $5.99 or Buy for $9.99 in SD or HD on Prime Video

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 24.7M

Domestic Total: 62.3M

Worldwide Total: 107.5M