Sometimes out-of-work actors can go slumming for a paycheck. And sometimes incompetent directors can strike a bit of luck. And maybe, just maybe, the two can meet in the middle, creating something that at least works nicely to fill a rainy Sunday afternoon. Call of the Wild is just that sort of movie.
The title is a bit misleading. I expected an ill-advised, bargain basement rendition of the great Jack London novel. Imagine my surprise – and relief – when the movie turned out to be something entirely different. This Call of the Wild tells a contemporary story of bonding between a grandfather, ‘Grandpa’ Bill Hale (Christopher Lloyd), and a granddaughter, Ryann Hale (Ariel Gade).
Set in snowy, rugged Montana, the movie has Ryann and Grandpa nursing to health a half dog/half wolf found beaten and bloody in their backyard. A teenage boy from town knows a great potential lead sled dog when he sees one. His archly evil adversary Heep (played with scenery-chewing gusto by Timothy Bottoms) also has a keen eye for prime sled dog material. And, around every turn, there’s a startling mountain man who eats apples with one mighty scary hunting knife. Sort of tying all of this together – and providing the movie with its title – are nightly bedtime readings of the London novel from grandfather to granddaughter, roughly paralleling the events of the story.
Now, Call of the Wild is not a well made movie, not in the slightest. Director Richard Gabai fulfills the legacy of his track record (Blood Nasty, Virgin High, Motocross Kids) and proves incapable of shooting his way out of a paper bag and, even worse, fully capable of missing the one of the easiest balls to hit in movies – the until now virtually indestructible sports movie.
There is something very wrong going on in a sports movie when the big climactic contest – in this case a sled dog race, of course – is utterly boring. I’ve seen a great many sports movies, including some with an even lower budget, and all of them have at least pulled off the big climax. Well, so much for the incompetent director part of this review. I’m much happier, though, to tell you about those out-of-work slumming actors and one very pleasantly surprising newcomer. No, I never take pleasure in panning a movie. I always look for the good things in every one I watch.
Article comments
1 - Greg Wilson
Interesting that personal attacks are not allowed here yet they seem to be flying freely from the tongue and pen of Todd Ford. I'm writing this because ironically my kids and enjoyed Moto-x-kids and I just saw and really enjoyed Miracle Dogs Too on Showtime both of which were directed by Richard Gabai. I looked up those other movies on the internet - they are over 20 years old. We look forward to Call of the Wild. Heed your own message about personal attacks - you insult your readers sometimes when you insult a movie director that we enjoy.
2 - Todd Ford
Thank you for your feedback. I'm glad you have enjoyed some of Mr. Gabai's movies in the past and maybe you'll enjoy this one as well. I'm sure though that calling a director's abilities into question is perfectly acceptable critical method and certainly not what this site's "personal attacks" policy intends to curtail. Please do see the movie (I included some sugar with the salt in my review and it does have its merits) and then post a counter review. That's what critical discussion is all about. Cheers.