The Call of the Wild (2020) WEB-DL 480p 720p 1080p

There have been several screen adaptations of the 1903 Jack London novel, “The Call of the Wild,” dating back to a silent film released in 1923. Even Charlie Brown and Snoopy had their way with the source material in 1978. For the 2020 version of the story, director Chris Sanders remains in a cartoon realm of sorts, merging heavy amounts of CGI with human actors to explore the animal instinct of London’s celebrated book. The director of “How to Train Your Dragon” and “The Croods,” Sanders knows his way around CG animation, and he’s quite good with adventure as well, giving his take on “The Call of the Wild” an enjoyable feel of naturalistic glorification and Alaskan peril, finding a fresh way to communicate London’s appreciation of instinct and survival.

A rambunctious dog without a sense of self-control, Buck has made a mess of his life with Judge Miller (Bradley Whitford), as his addiction to mischief has made him vulnerable to dognappers who steal the pooch and bring him to the Yukon during the gold rush. Exposed to abusive men, Buck finally finds his purpose with mail carriers Perrault (Omar Sy) and Francoise (Cara Gee), who make the dog part of their sled team, facing a battle for alpha status with lead Spitz, who doesn’t take kindly to the new addition.

Learning the lay of the land, Buck becomes a powerhouse sled dog, sharing concern for his teammates and his masters, but when times change and the route is shut down, he finds his way to John (Harrison Ford). A man searching for solace after the death of his son, John forms a partnership with Buck, with the duo striving to explore untamed land, soon encountering the wrath of Hal (Dan Stevens), an urban gold hunter who can’t manage the harsh terrain, sensing John is hiding something with his map to the middle of nowhere.While Harrison Ford is the global superstar used to sell the movie to the masses, “The Call of the Wild” is actually Buck’s story, following his development from an unruly pet to a dog becoming one with his surroundings, learning of his potential and primal needs. The tale begins with Buck as a large breed terror making life difficult for Judge Miller and his family as they try to pull off a special day, filling a picnic table with piles of immaculately prepared food.

For the dog, the buffet begins, ruining the arrangement with utter lunch-munching chaos, casting doubt on his future as Miller’s pet. It’s not long before Buck is taken by criminals and sent northward, with domestic comforts replaced by cold crates and violent men waving clubs, asserting dominance through pain. Buck’s endurance is tested and his perception of the world begins to change, with narration by John providing some insight into his thought process, keeping storytelling simple as Buck experiences the development of his intuition.

For a book that celebrated hardships in nature, perhaps “The Call of the Wild” will be too plasticized for some, as Sanders creates beauty and threat wherever he goes, making it difficult to understand where the computers end and the locations begin. Sanders and screenwriter Michael Green don’t suffocate the story, and their enthusiasm for staging chases, exploration, and encounters with certain doom gives the movie a strong pace and evocative understanding of Buck’s journey, with the heroic creature finally permitted a chance to get into contact with his inner fire.

“The Call of the Wild” is imperfect, but it offers the essentials of family entertainment with care, also handing Ford one of his better roles in recent years, creating chemistry with the digital dog in an endeavor that truly wants to entertain its audience, generating enough emotion and suspense to carry the viewing experience.