CALL OF THE WILD

US, 2020, 100 minutes, Colour.
Harrison Ford, Omar Sy, Dan Stevens, Cara Gee, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford.
Directed by Chris Sanders.

Once again, a screen version of Jack London’s very popular novel of 1903, set in the Yukon, Call of the Wild. There have been at least five film and television versions of this novel. (But, also in the Yukon and the goldfields of the Klondike, 12 listings of films based on London’s White Fang).

This version is geared for a family audience. It is also larger than life. And that is in reference to the special effects to create not only the central dog, hero of the story, Buck, but also a number of other dogs, especially in the team for pulling the sled that carries the mail over the snow fields and mountains. Buck is certainly a very big dog. Some reviewers (who perhaps left their sense of entertainment outside the cinema) have disapproved of dogs who have been digitally created. They condemn them as fake animals.

On the other hand, there is the ordinary cinemagoers, especially the young, who enjoy what is up there on the screen, the big affable hound, the snarly villainous dog, leader of the pack, the strange array of the sled pullers, and, especially at the end, a number of wolves.

While Buck might seem bigger than he should be, he causes mayhem down in California at the turn of the 20th century, in a mansion owned by a judge, but creating mess and upsets all over the place. While the judge might be contemplating what he must do with Buck, dog thieves from the goldfields abduct Buck and take him northwards. At one stage, he meets a grizzled old traveller, John, played by Harrison Ford who also does the voice-over and commentary.

So, where will Buck finish up? He is first bought by a sympathetic owner, Perreault (the always engaging Omar Sy) and his wife Françoise, not succeeding at first in getting Buck to pull the sled with the team but, eventually, Buck excelling himself, helping the other dogs, confronting the snarling leader who is humiliated and walks away into the forest. Perreault appoints another leader but they all defer to Buck. And, of course, as hasn’t happened before, Buck gets the mail to their destinations on time.

When the mail service is closed, the dogs are bought by a brash would-be gold-prospector (Dan Stevens) who really knows nothing about it, is motivated by greed, dragging his friends along for the prospecting, but at the wrong season. He buys the dogs, whips them, but John, who has renewed a friendship with Buck, goes after the group and rescues Buck.

The beginning of a beautiful friendship, the beginning of a grand adventure. They go out into the wilderness, discover a remote hut, do some prospecting. But there is the call of the wild and Buck runs with the wolves and is attracted by a white wolf who is certainly attracted to him.

There is a bit more action, of course, as the vengeful prospector tracks down John and Buck and it builds up to a dramatic climax, not so happy for the humans, but Buck fulfilling his destiny in a call to the wild.

While the animals are larger than life, digitally fabricated, the whole story is for most audiences, and entertaining yarn.


1. The popularity of Jack London story? Filmed so many times? The 21st-century interpretation, the focus on Buck, on the dogs and the animals, the contributing humans, good and bad?

2. The opening in the turn-of-the-century city, Buck and his racing through the town, up turning everything, into the house, the doors, jars saved, the preparation for the banquet, his getting the chicken, the photo, missing everything, the exasperation of the judge? The traders from the Yukon and deciding to capture Buck and make money? Luring him away, maltreatment, the train, on the boat?

3. The narrative by Harrison Ford, John’s perspective? The attraction to Buck, the return of the mouth organ, the affection? John’s own story, his son, death, unable to be with his wife, wanting to be far away, going to the Yukon, not searching for gold, living in the town?

4. The scenery of the Yukon, the towns of the turn-of-the-century, the crowds of people, the gold seekers, the file going up the mountain in the snow? The mail going through, Perrault and his dogs, taking on Buck, Buck and his accidents, over the cliff, the clash with the leader dog, the subservience of the other dogs, leading up to the arrogance of the leader, drinking the water, but breaking the ice and the others drinking? The rabbit, the chase, his letting it go, the leader and his killing the rabbit? The fight for the leadership, the leader going out into the forest? Perreault, Francoise, the travel, the camping, being on time or not? The allotment of a new leader, Buck and his taking over, the speed of the travel, the deliveries of the mail in the towns? And the telegram to say that the mail service was being discontinued? Perreault leaving the dogs? His being a good master? And Buck finding his place with the team?

5. Finding John again, the bond between them, John and his drinking, Buck not wanting him to drink? John writing a letter to his wife, delaying the return of the mail?

6. The group wanting to find gold, the wrong season, the dapper dress, accent, presumptions? Buying the dogs? Their being warned that it was the wrong season? The hardships, the whips to the dogs, the reactions? John and his decision to follow, the confrontation, saving Buck? The leader and his anger with John, the assault, in the bar, Buck and his intervention? The Native American and his judgement about John and Buck? The leader thrown out?

7. John and Buck, company, the memory of his son back, going beyond them? The setting out on a great adventure? The canoe, the falls, on foot, finding the hut, the panning for gold? Finding gold?

8. Buck, the encounter with the wolves, the attraction, late home at night, going with the pack, the white wolf? John recognising this and encouraging Buck to go back to the wild?

9. The arrival of the gold seeker, his finding the map in John’s hut? His eventually arriving, the attack, the gun, the lantern hit, the starting the fire? Buck rescuing the photo, the mouth organ? John being shot? The gold seeker pushed into the hut, consumed by the flames?

10. Buck, at home in the wild, following the call, the encounters with the Bear, with the other wolves, in the pack?

11. A film for a wide audience, with more focus on the animals – and the expertise of the animatronics, special effects, the behaviour of the animals, their movements, even to the human look and expressions on their faces?