The Call of the Wild-Kids’ Movie Review
Life is good for Buck, a St. Bernard/Scotch Collie dog. His owner is Judge Miller, he lives in a beautiful California home, and everyone in town knows the beloved dog. However, Buck’s life dramatically changes when he is stolen from his family and is sent to the Yukon to work as a sled dog. Luckily, John Thornton (Harrison Ford), comes across the poorly treated dog and saves his life. Together the man/dog duo go on an adventure to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon in the 1890’s during the Klondike Gold Rush. The Call of the Wild is a family-friendly adaptation of Jack London’s classic novel.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: February 21, 2020
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- There are physical fights between men, and also men and dogs.
- A dog is beaten by a man with a baton.
- Animals are killed by other animals.
- Dogs are pushed to extreme, they are even whipped to keep working.
- A character bleeds to death.
- A character is trapped in a burning cabin.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “hell,” and “damit.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Characters are shown drinking alcohol in bars.
- A man frequently drinks whiskey and it’s clear he has a drinking problem.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a wonderful family film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and drug and alcohol content.
