---
title: "The Call of the Wild: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-call-of-the-wild/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-call-of-the-wild"
critics_score: 54
critics_reviews: 23
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Call of the Wild (2020): what the critics said

Critics' score 54 from 23 reviews: 7 positive, 8 mixed, 8 negative.

The reviews are divided, with the consensus settling around a mixed response to this sentimental adventure. Harrison Ford provides the clearest point of agreement: critics across the divide praise his warmth, restraint and vulnerability, often finding his performance affecting even when the digital Buck is not convincing. The sled sequences, snowy scenery and dog-centred action also draw praise, while the more enthusiastic reviews find an entertaining, emotionally engaging retelling beneath the artificial surfaces.

The chief disagreement concerns whether the conspicuous CGI serves the story or makes its central animal too difficult to believe. The Ringer welcomes the artificial landscapes as a thoughtful way to celebrate wilderness without damaging it; The Wrap finds the animals lifeless and the adaptation remote from Jack London’s story. Responses range widely, from warm approval to outright rejection, with reservations also clustering around the softened brutality, broad characterisation and sentimentality.

## Little White Lies — Elena Lazic

Rating 2/4/3. 17 February 2020. 

Lazic finds this a winning adaptation that treats its audience respectfully. She praises the thrilling sled sequences and the film’s direct, dog-centered perspective.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-call-of-the-wild)

## Slant Magazine — Michael Joshua Rowin

Rating 3/4. 17 February 2020. 

The critic finds the adaptation surprisingly thrilling and emotionally moving despite its softened treatment of the novel’s harsh realities. He praises the spirited CGI-driven movement and Harrison Ford’s vulnerable performance.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-call-of-the-wild-review-harrison-ford/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2020. 

Bradshaw finds the film corny but robustly entertaining, with real storytelling bite. He particularly praises its old-fashioned, analogue-hearted adventure despite its CGI animals.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/17/the-call-of-the-wild-review-harrison-ford-jack-london-disney)

## Empire — Ian Freer

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2020. 

Freer finds it a sentimental, dependable retelling that is entertaining without doing anything radical. He praises the well-mounted set-pieces and Harrison Ford’s grizzled gravitas, while noting that the digital animals can make Buck harder to believe as a real dog.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-call-of-the-wild/)

## Variety — Owen Gleiberman

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2020. 

Gleiberman finds the film increasingly affecting despite its overdone, artificial visual style. He praises Harrison Ford’s soulful, restrained performance for bringing Buck and their friendship to life.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/the-call-of-the-wild-review-harrison-ford-1203505493/)

## RogerEbert.com

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 

The review’s verdict cannot be verified because the page only shows a browser-check message. No praise or complaint can be identified from the available text.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-call-of-the-wild-movie-review-2020)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2020. 

The review page could not be accessed, so its verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint could be verified.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/movies/the-call-of-the-wild-review.html)

## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 19 February 2020. 

Walsh finds the film a simple, old-fashioned adventure that is held back by its conspicuously animated dog. She praises the human performances, especially Omar Sy’s warmth and Harrison Ford’s gravelly presence.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-02-19/call-of-the-wild-review-harrison-ford-jack-london)

## Time Out — Dan Jolin

Rating 3/5. 17 February 2020. 

The review finds the man-and-CG-dog adventure somewhat lost in the uncanny valley. It praises Harrison Ford’s gruff charisma, while faulting the dog’s artificial appearance.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-call-of-the-wild-1)

## Total Film — James Mottram

Rating 3/5. 18 February 2020. 

Mottram finds the film a big-hearted adaptation despite distracting CGI and caricatured performances. He praises the impressive motion-capture and snowy visuals, while noting that the animals do not always look real.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/call-of-the-wild-review/)

## IndieWire — Eric Kohn

Rating C. 17 February 2020. 

Kohn finds the adaptation a misguided, visually awkward effort that cannot reconcile its CGI dog with the natural world. He praises the icy cinematography and says the dog-focused action sequences are among the film’s most engaging.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-call-of-the-wild-review-1202211611/)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Rating 2/5. 24 February 2020. 

O'Sullivan finds the film mild, sappy and frequently ridiculous, though it should please children. She praises Harrison Ford's involving performance and notes some warm acting and neat visual gags.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-call-of-the-wild-review-harrison-ford-and-his-dead-eyed-cgi-dog-take-a-walk-on-the-mild-side-a4365161.html)

## The AV Club — Allison Shoemaker

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2020. 

Shoemaker finds the film disappointing, arguing that its blend of live action and photorealistic animation never quite works. She praises the animated sequences of Buck running through the wilderness, where the format’s possibilities come alive.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/harrison-ford-and-call-of-the-wild-get-lost-in-the-wild-1841745997)

## Film Comment — Michael Sragow

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 

Sragow finds the adaptation flimsy and overly familiar. He faults it for playing like a middling live-action Disney movie.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-the-call-of-the-wild/)

## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2020. 

Halligan gives the film a negative verdict, calling this version over-produced. She singles out its excessive CGI as overwhelming the story.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/call-of-the-wild-review/5147249.article)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2020. 

Scheck finds the film overblown and visually disorienting, despite its brisk pace and handsome cinematography. He singles out Harrison Ford’s sensitive, emotionally deep performance as the film’s best feature.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/call-wild-1279441/)

## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2020. 

Lane finds the adaptation too softened and its digital Buck not quite credible. He praises Jack London’s novel as ferally fast and lithe, while arguing the film loses its savagery.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/03/02/watching-the-call-of-the-wild-with-an-audience-of-dogs)

## Vulture — David Edelstein

Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 21 February 2020. 

Edelstein finds the adaptation weak and fundamentally at odds with the novel’s wildness. He praises Harrison Ford’s naturally surly performance but criticizes the CGI dogs and the film’s sentimental, homogenized tone.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2020/02/call-of-the-wild-pairs-a-fake-dog-with-a-real-harrison-ford.html)

## HeyUGuys

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds the film very entertaining and emotionally affecting. They praise Terry Notary’s motion-capture performance as Buck and its contribution to Harrison Ford’s performance.

[Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-call-of-the-wild-review/)

## The Ringer — Manuela Lazic

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 24 February 2020. 

Lazic finds the film a thoughtful, celebratory use of CGI that also warns about humanity’s harm to nature. She especially praises how the artificial landscapes convey the beauty and fragility of the wilderness without damaging real terrain.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2020/02/24/movies/call-of-the-wild-harrison-ford-dog-movie-is-good)

## Consequence — Robert Daniels

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2020. 

The review finds the film silly and formulaic but still an enjoyable family adventure. It praises Buck’s endearing personality and Harrison Ford’s lighthearted performance, while criticizing the conspicuous CGI and slow second half.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2020/02/film-review-call-of-the-wild/)

## /Film — Hoai-Tran Bui

Rating 6 out of 10. 21 February 2020. 

Bui finds the film heartfelt but ultimately weighed down by uncanny CGI, tonal unevenness, and schmaltz. She praises Harrison Ford’s vulnerable performance and the quiet wilderness passages in the second half.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/572461/the-call-of-the-wild-review/)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2020. 

The critic finds the adaptation slow, emotionless, and unrecognizable as Jack London’s story. The review especially faults the CGI animals, whose dead-eyed look undermines the film’s attempt to portray nature.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-call-of-the-wild-film-review-2020-harrison-ford/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-call-of-the-wild.md