The Call of the Wild: A Tale of Hope

The Call of the Wild movie poster

Disney’s The Call of the Wild is a riveting tale of finding the true meaning of home. With nail-biting adventure, and villains that make you wish they we’re defeated earlier on. 

The story follows Buck, a large St. Bernard cross whose rambunctious lifestyle often gets him into trouble. One day, Buck is snatched from his home in California, where he lives a leisurely lifestyle with a judge, and shipped off to Alaska where his thieves hoped to make money selling him as a sled dog. 

Sled dogs were in high demand as people came from far and wide seeking gold during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush. 

A kind-hearted man named Perrault adopts Buck to be a member of his sled team where Buck learns the art of running in the Yukon’s harsh weather. The teamwork for the mail service and Buck quickly becomes the leader of the pack. Buck’s love for running through the Alaskan backcountry flourished.  When one of his owners falls through the ice, it’s Bucks heroism that saves her life. 

However, the tale doesn’t end there. When Perrault is told his mail route is canceled Buck and his team are sold to a group of rich wannabe gold miners who’s cruel nature put the dogs to the test.  Eventually, Buck is separated from his team when he collapses during a run due to mistreatment from his owners. 

Harrison Ford as John Thornton—a troubled man searching for salvation in the backcountry of Alaska rescues Buck from his owners and takes him in. The duo set off on their own adventure, traveling “beyond the map.” While John and Buck explore the wilderness, something calls Buck into the woods, towards the hunt.  From there the movie kicks off as the duo set out on an adventure that not only tells the heartfelt story of a man and his dog but tells the story of finding the one place you belong—a place to call home. 

The film keeps many of the key elements Jack London wrote in this novel, but many of the more violent aspects of the book have been cut out to make way for a more family-friendly version of the film. The Call of the Wild debuted in theatres pre-quarantine in the U.S. The film is a must-see for dog lovers because it doesn’t tell the traditional dog story we are used to, and challenges us to think about our furry friends and the wild instincts that call them. We give The Call of the Wild four out of four paws up.