Call of the Wild Parents Guide
on Feb 23, 2020, Updated Feb 16, 2023
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If you plan to see The Call of the Wild with your kids, be sure to read our Call of the Wild parents guide before heading to the movies. This one comes with a warning!
With the Jack London classic as the foundation for the story and a CGI dog making us all wonder if it will be worth it, The Call of the Wild has been the topic of a lot of speculation leading to its theatrical release.
But should you bring your kids to see this movie? Whether or not you are familiar with the story, some parents are giving warnings for this one.
About The Call of the Wild Movie
Official Synopsis: Adapted from the beloved literary classic, THE CALL OF THE WILD vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team–and later its leader–Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master.
The Call of the Wild is directed by Chris Sanders with a screenplay by Michael Green. It’s based upon the novel by Jack London and produced by Erwin Stoff. The film stars Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford, and Colin Woodell.
Watch The Call of the Wild Trailer
The Call of the Wild Parents Guide
The good news is, after a little while, Buck the CGI dog becomes a little less CGI and a lot more dog. From what I have heard, I can see why they made this choice, even if it still seems a little unnatural.
The Call of the Wild is rated PG and has a runtime for 1 hour and 40 minutes, length shouldn’t be an issue for your littles.
That said if you have children under 10, I want to share some thoughts from some of my fellow mom friends. You know us moms, man. We have opinions!
In her post, Can you take your kids to Call of the Wild? Patty from No-Guilt Fangirl warned of animal abuse against the dog that had her 8-year old daughter in tears.
She also answers the all important question of when it’s the best time to use the bathroom because, let’s face it. When you gotta go you gotta go!
Ashley from Ashley & Company gives a hard no for young kids despite the PG rating due to the animal abuse, some language and gun violence in her The Call of the Wild movie review.
She also gives a detailed account of the story if you are looking for more information and don’t mind a few spoilers.
Finally, while we don’t always agree with the Common Sense Media recommendations, I thought it was interesting to note that while both the site and parents agreed that age 8-9 and up may enjoy the movie, the kids who have reviewed it so far recommend it for 11+.
At the end of the day and just like any movie, it’s important to know your child and what they can handle.
I have a feeling the injustice against animals would be hard to watch at any age, but little ones especially may need to wait and watch this one at home.
Have you seen The Call of the Wild yet? What are your thoughts?
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