L'Appel de la forêt

I didn't expect a film called The Call of the Wild to offer a fully digital dog in the lead role, which is far from the end of its dubious progressiveness. I might as well have watched a cartoon. This film has nothing much to do with Jack London. If we let children watch similar digital fairy tales, they won't even know how real animals behave in real life. In extreme situations, they can pay a heavy price for their ignorance of natural behavior and natural laws. Unlike them, we adults know that even the biggest dog cannot make a bear retreat by merely baring its fangs. If only for the participation of the likable Omar Sy and the amusing scene with the golden trout that Buck dropped back into the water from his mouth when Harrison Ford wasn't looking, I'm sticking with a three-star rating. (50%) (01/02/2022)

This adventure classic starring a digital dog appeals with pretty pictures and a likeable animal hero. But unfortunately, the story runs forward unnecessarily fast and a lot of potentially interesting scenes don't work nearly as well as they should. A fine film. But it had the potential for more. (25/02/2020)

There’s fuck all in the cinemas, so I have to go out of necessity to see movies that aren't for me, and as a result I was actually surprised at what a decent family adventure this one ended up being. The digital dog Bucky is perfect and the first half, where the dog is kidnapped and sent out into the Canadian wilderness to join a pack and pull a heavy sled, has not only a fine pacing but a decent amount of emotion. I enjoyed the second half a little less, but it is still a decent above standard in the genre, with nice locations and a bearded Harrison Ford. Touching, sweet, pretty and at times suspenseful. More entertaining than Togo. 6.5/10. (24/02/2020)

Once upon a time there was a sharp dog named Buck who was a sort of moral compass for his owners and pack members, trying to find his place in the natural order that would suit him best. The Call of the Wild draws the viewer in especially with its beautiful natural locations and the presence of Harrison Ford, who really suited the role of John. Story-wise, the film doesn't have much to surprise, even for someone who hasn't read the book (like me). The most disturbing element, however, was the animation of the animals, which at times seemed too artificial – after all, we are used to a certain degree of quality after films like Life of Pi and The Jungle Book. The film passes by in the cinema like a rapid, but at the same time it quickly evaporates from the subconscious after the screening, as it does not offer any strong and downright memorable scenes, which is a pity. (27/02/2020)