TV, MOVIES & MORE
! • BY EMILY LONGERETTA
FRIDAY 2/21The Call of the Wild
It’s amazing how a legendary movie star and an endearing dog can liven up an
adaptation of a classic literary work that was a chore to read back in the day. In
case you dozed off in junior high, this is the wholesome, family-friendly story
of a Saint Bernard mix named Buck. He’s stolen from his California home and
sold as a sled dog to freight haulers up in the Yukon, but soon discovers
that he was destined to roam free. Along the way, Buck crosses paths with
John Thornton (Harrison Ford at his craggiest), a broken man in mourning
and trying to strike gold. For all the adventures on hand, the low-key scenes
in the fresh air are the most moving (and droll). Who knew we’d ever see the
d a y w h e n F o r d w o u l d b e t r a d i n g h a r m o n i c a b l o w s w i t h a f u r r y c o s t a r?
MARA REINSTEIN, MARAMOVIES.COM(^52) | MARCH 2, 2020