The Call of the Wild

Name: The Call of the Wild
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Animation, Family
Released: February 21, 2020
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 48
Cast: Abraham Benrubi, Bradley Whitford, Cara Gee, Colin Woodell, Dan Stevens

2020

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 44 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 104 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 104 Ratings

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The Call Of The Wild

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Movie Details & Credits

20th Century Fox | Release Date: February 21, 2020 | PG

Starring: Abraham Benrubi, Bradley Whitford, Cara Gee, Colin Woodell, Dan Stevens, Harrison Ford, Jean Louisa Kelly, Karen Gillan, Micah Fitzgerald, Michael Horse, Omar Sy, Preston Bailey, Scott MacDonald, Stephanie Czajkowski, Terry Notary, Wes Brown

Summary: Buck is a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team--and later its leader--Buck experiences the adventure of aBuck is a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team--and later its leader--Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master.… Expand

Director: Chris Sanders

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Animation, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Rex Reed

Feb 21, 2020

Buck is lovable forever. If you think he’s perfection on four legs, he is. If you think he’s the most human dog since Lassie, Benji and Rin Tin Tin, he isn’t. Because Buck, you see, is computer-generated. Never mind. I guarantee you will love him anyway. Read full review

Michael Joshua Rowin

Feb 17, 2020

The film’s avoidance of cruel Gold Rush realities is more than made up for by its spirited kineticism and by its deepening of the man-dog bond that forms the heart of London’s story. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Feb 21, 2020

Harrison Ford gives as dignified a performance as he has managed in many years. And the cinematography (by veteran Janusz Kaminski) is glorious. But the tonal shifts threaten to cause whiplash and the “improvements” made to London’s book (presumably to make it more cinematic) undermine both the thematic and narrative integrity of the tale. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Feb 17, 2020

For all the wholesome cheesiness of much of the film, you’d have to have a pretty hard heart not to be touched by it. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Nell Minow

Feb 20, 2020

The problem is less the technology, which is very impressive, than it is the uneven storyline, which zigzags from slapstick to poignance to action. Read full review

Allison Shoemaker

Feb 17, 2020

It is neither disaster nor dream, landing firmly somewhere in the disappointing middle. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Feb 20, 2020

Buck is so precocious, such a relentlessly clever construction, that he leaves nothing to our imagination. He’s the soul-free star of a movie that’s dead in the icy water. Read full review

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User Reviews

NathanB4567

Feb 21, 2020

Great, just like the book. Suitable for all ages, as it is not as violent as the book. While some parts are dragged on, the rest of the movie is an incredible adventure

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

zmgalen2000

Feb 23, 2020

A tearjerking TAIL of wonder, love, and instinct, The Call of the Wild is one of the first truly memorable films of 2020. The movie will take you on a whimsical path, leaving you laughing, crying, and wanting it to carry on endlessly. Buck and John share growth and a journey that is nothingA tearjerking TAIL of wonder, love, and instinct, The Call of the Wild is one of the first truly memorable films of 2020. The movie will take you on a whimsical path, leaving you laughing, crying, and wanting it to carry on endlessly. Buck and John share growth and a journey that is nothing but perfect. Is the dog CGI? Yes. Is it noticeable? Somewhat. Does it detract from the film, itself? Not at all.… Expand