To its credit, this new retelling of Jack London's classic novel tries to adhere to the bones of the book, while taking significant liberties to soften its rougher, more culturally insensitive edges. (In the most inexplicable choice, it also skips the scene where the mighty mutt pulls a 1,000-pound sled, always a past highlight.) In this case, though, the blessings of technology actually undermine the movie in significant, distracting ways. Directed by animation veteran Chris Sanders from Michael Green's screenplay, the movie thus falls somewhere in a no-man's -- or really, no-dog's -- land, often feeling more animated than live-action. The obvious artifice undercuts any tension, despite beautiful scenery and a musical score that works overtime to build excitement.

Source: CNN February 20, 2020 20:37 UTC