The Mycenaean

Call of the Wild, released on February 21, 2020, is the sixth movie adaptation of Jack London’s The Call Of The Wild novel written in 1903.  While it does have the same aspect as the original book, director Chris Sanders put his own spin on Jack London’s adventure.

 

In the movie, you follow the life of a pampered Californian pet named Buck during the 1890’s.  Buck is a strong half St. Bernard and half sheepdog, owned by the well respected Doc Miller.  The dog lives a life of luxury, and as the movie says, he is a bit ‘spoiled’, never really having to worry about work.

 

That all changes after Buck is dognapped, sold and shipped to Alaska.  The need for strong sled dogs has grown after the discovery of gold, and Buck quickly became a target.  His world of privilege ends, and soon he finds that those of the Yukon are ruthless, not afraid to show they have the upper hand with a beating of a club.  

 

Mail carriers Perrault (played by Omar Sy) and Francoise (played by Cara Gee) buy Buck as an addition to their sled team.  While confused at first, Buck soon finds himself gaining the respect of not only his new masters, but as well as the rest of the sled team.  Through small acts of kindness, the other dogs take a liking to Buck, except for the lead dog, Spits, who feels threatened by Buck.  

 

As it seems for Buck, good things don’t tend to last.  When the mail route is terminated, Perrault and Francoise are forced to give up the dog team.  Buck once again finds himself submitting to the club of his new masters.  Tired and broken, Buck is saved by a man named John Thoreton (played by Harrison Ford).  

 

It is now that Buck’s real journey begins, as Thoreton opens up a whole new world to Buck.  Seeing each other as equals, they start their adventure into the unknown, forever changing Buck from the domesticated dog he once was.

 

The movie Call of the Wild is a story about perseverance, life’s struggles, and finding who you are, even through the eyes of a dog.

 

I feel that the movie Call Of The Wild portrays the relationships people not only have with each other, but also with animals, very well. It gives viewers many emotional stories, showing how every person you meet has an impact on your life, for better or for worse. 

 

When asked in an interview if he hopes the story inspires others to do better as human beings, actor Harrison Ford said, “I think that any emotional exercise, any opportunity to experience your common humanity with other people who you don’t know, who don’t look like you, who don’t act like you, who think other things, who live other places, who are different color or different instinctual behavior, that’s what makes us human. That’s what reminds us that it’s not just about us, it’s about all of us.”

 

The movie Call Of The Wild is a tale all on its own, one that doesn’t need viewers to know Jack London’s original story, with morals that every viewer can take away.  You don’t have to know the original story to understand what Call Of The Wild will teach.  The movie is movement, teaching everyone to start their own adventure —  To find their own Call of the Wild.