They say a dog is a man’s best friend, but Buck has a different calling. Based on the famous 1903 novel The Call of the Wild by Jack London, Buck is captured and sold as a dog sled pusher for a mail carrier. After the carrier is forced to sell his dogs, Buck eventually finds a new home with John, played by Harrison Ford.
The adaptation has the makings of a good film: a compelling story with a beautiful Alaskan backdrop. The problem? That Disney touch weighs this sled down.
The film is marketed as Ford’s film, as the actor is featured prominently in the trailer and poster. However, Ford doesn’t doesn’t come into play until around the 45 minute mark. And by then, we’re already down to an hour left.
Maybe it’s because I’m ignorant and don’t remember the book being dog centric, but when something promises one of Hollywood’s legends, I’d rather see him more rather than a silly CGI dog.
While Ford’s late entrance is a doggone outrage, so are the effects. There are no real dogs, nor real sets. Buck is actually played by a man, choreographer Terry Notary. So while Ford is rubbing the dog’s belly, it’s a little unsettling to think that’s some dude rolling around on the floor in a green skin suit pretending to be an animal.
Moreover, the sets look completely green screened. None of the film was shot on location, but instead entirely in Hollwood. You can tell, as every tree and blade of grass looks like something out of a Pixar movie.
The Call could’ve been worth answering if there was something real about it. Everything feels fake and more like an animated film.
But the script by Michael Green doesn’t help, because half of the movie is full of people yelling, “BUCK!” Talk about no room for error on that script.
Similar to last week’s Sonic, Wild is another film that’s suitable for five-year-olds only. It’s worth throwing a bone to a kid to see it, yet for adults, there’s plenty to bark about.
IMAGE TAKEN from Cosmic Book News
