*** out of 4 stars
Disney's The Call of the Wild is in theaters nowIt is very loosely based on the classic Jack London children's book. . I saw the movie Sunday afternoon at King of Prussia. The theater was about half full but the morning show was sold-out. I later found out why: families and seniors. Area senior citizen living centers were busing their folks over by vans to see the film. It should do very well. It came in second this weeknd at the box office, raking in over $ 25 million.
If you can get past the fake dogs and a grizzled Harrison Ford, you'll love this movie. The story centers on Buck, a giant dog who lives with a retired judge and his wife. Buck is overly rambunctious, and in a matter of moments, ruins a family outdoor party. He is stolen from his backyard, taken to cold Alaska ad sold to a dog sled company looking for canines to mush their sleeds.
Buck is actually treated pretty well as he soon becomes pack leader, carrying the mail over the wide tundra. It's hard work. But then unlucky Bucky is bought, after the dog sled mail delivery is closed down because of the new telegraph system ( the story is set around 1849).
The weirdo who buys Buck this time is a crazed lunatic in Alaska looking to seize the Gold Rush. His plan is to get out on the tundra, where no one else goes, and pan for gold.So he enlists poor Buck and his fellow mushers to pull he, his two acquaintences and their belongings across frozen, barren wasteland for a shot at fool's gold.
Only problem is, predictably, this Simon Legree-type ever feeds his dogs. Undernourished pooches don't have the strength to pull the slrigh anymore. Thus enters the welcome sight of Ford, who has bumped into Buck two previous times in the movie. He buys Buck.
Buck has a good life with the old coger, who is a widow. He reflects on his wife, his lost wife and a kid. So, to fight his ongoing depression, Ford decides to take the dog and high-tail it out of town, lookingfor gold.
Meanwhile, the same Simon legree guy tracks Ford and Buck, hoping to find out the exact location of the plentiful gold. There is death involved ( I won't spoil anything). That may be hard on little kids, otherwise the movie should be a spellbinding joy for all ages.
The Alaska scenery is breath-taking. The action sequences aer well-done and kept my interest. Yes, the animals in the film are CGI ( computer graphic images) and most of the time look pretty real. There's no way thye couldv'e gotten real animaks to do stunts in this movie.
Harrison Ford gives a nice, sentimental performance, as do all cast members. The movie is fun, exciting and well made. It held my attention for nearly two hours.
There are funny, slapstick scenes and also tearful, heartwarmig scenes. It's "A Dog's Journey," only with CGI animals. Since it appears to be doing well I wouldn't doubt some sort of sequel down the road,All in all, it was a fun way to spend a Sunday .
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