Review: 'The Call of the Wild'
"The Call of The Wild" is a fun and comical take on the short adventure novel of the same name by Jack London. However, screenwriter Michael Green and director Chris Sanders took risks in the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and reworkings of scenes from the original work.
The most controversial decision made about the film is the use of CGI for Buck, the protagonist St. Bernard and Scotch shepherd mix. The primary concern about this decision is the lack of authenticity. How can a CG dog replace a real dog?
While CG animals can never truly replace real animals, there are many benefits the film takes advantage of in doing so. The primary advantage is the creative characterization of Buck through his facial expressions and movements.
Throughout the movie, Buck's mannerisms and movements look like what a dog would do, at least according to my experience, while also revealing his emotions and state of mind.
Upon seeing Buck in the opening scene, he was clearly CG; this is the point, I think, where many might disengage from the film. Despite this, the CGI is good enough for the audience, if they are willing, to suspend their disbelief and invest in a CG protagonist. After the opening scene, I was quickly able to ignore the fact I knew Buck was not real and enjoy the movie.
Another advantage of using CGI is that it puts aside the need for a real dog to be forced into acting in a movie. The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals endorsed the movie for its use of CGI in place of an animal actor.
Especially with the fantastic nature shots, which were also CG, the film resembled a Disney animated film at times. This is because the editor David Heinz also worked on "The Jungle Book" in 2016.
This cartoonish, kid-friendly depiction of "The Call of the Wild" may not be appealing for adults in the audience; however, it is a good quality film both children and parents can enjoy.
Harrison Ford's performance as John Thornton was solid. He portrayed a flawed but kind-hearted man with whom it was easy to empathize. Ford's dynamic with Buck depicted a man's best friend relationship that, as someone with an affinity for dogs, was also impactful and easy to understand.
This relationship is one of the few themes the movie carried over from the novel portrayed exceptionally well. Others include the novel's namesake, Buck's instinctive pull towards the wilderness and his ancestors or the call of the wild, and the feeling of wanderlust and adventure-seeking.
Green and Sanders included techniques such as Ford's narration of Buck's thoughts and the inclusion of visions coaxing Buck out into the wilderness. These techniques instilled the recurring theme of a dog's primitive desire to be in the wild. By this, the audience is given meaningful insight into Buck's desire.
While these themes persist, the more violent scenes in the novel were either taken out or deescalated for younger audiences. Despite being a fan of the original work's gritty portrayal of a dog's wild nature, I appreciate this kid-friendly version, especially considering its faithfulness to the original themes.
If you cannot invest in a CG protagonist, this movie is not for you. Its purpose is to provide a PG experience that carries over many vital themes from the original work. While there are notable drawbacks to the CGI and PG rating, it is an enjoyable and good quality film.
