Entertainment: Weekend the HERALD
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17 Entertainment PAGE 17 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Entertainment: Weekend THE HERALD 20TH CENTURY FOX/ASSOCIATED PRESS Harrison Ford stars as John Thornton in “Call of the Wild.” The film is showing at Jasper 8 Theatres. ‘Call of the Wild’ stranded in digital doghouse RICHARD ROEPER playing one canine character) be- nia before he was stolen and sold like a dandy, knows nothing about coming a part of the family, get- Call of the Wild as a sled dog, but nobody has been the Yukon and cruelly overworks ting into pickles, living a good dog- êê better suited to the role than Har- Buck and the team. All the main dogs and wolves gie life, etc. (I recently rewatched a rison Ford. He’s by far the best Poor Dan Stevens. He’s a fine in “The Call of the Wild” are of personal favorite, “My Dog Skip,” Cast: Harrison Ford thing in this movie. actor (you might remember him the CGI variety, and they’re so ex- and it slayed me once again.) Rating: PG for some violence, Thornton serves as the narra- as Matthew Crawley on “Downton pressive we keep expecting them Here, though the motion cap- peril, thematic elements and tor for the story, which adheres Abbey”), but he gives a desperately to start talking, a la their comput- ture/CGI technology is a marvel mild language. to the main themes of London’s intense performance here as Hal, er-generated counterparts in “The to behold and there are moments novel but drops a number of char- who becomes so unhinged he’s like Lion King” and “Dolittle.” when it looks like Harrison Ford acters and plot elements while a crazed stalker in a horror movie. This is an insurmountable is interacting with an actual gi- of Jack London’s short adven- fleshing out Thornton’s personal “The Call of the Wild” is most problem, seeing as how the story ant dog named Buck, every time ture novel, which was published history. effective after John Thornton is set in a realistic, late 19th-cen- there’s a close-up of Buck or one in 1903 and was set in the Yukon Much of the first half of “The comes to the rescue of Buck, and tury world, and yet the animals, of the other creatures, there’s during the Klondike Gold Rush of Call of the Wild” focuses on vice versa. Ford gives a grounded, in particular the lead dog, are so something unsettling and artificial the 1890s. Buck’s growth from a clumsy quietly powerful performance as over-the-top expressive, the tech- about the overly expressive eyes. Everyone from Clark Gable to goofball to the lead sled dog for a reclusive, regret-filled, self-pity- nology actually undercuts the Real dogs can already reduce Charlton Heston to Rutger Hauer the postal delivery duo of Perrault ing old-timer who crawls out of a emotional impact of the story. us to puddles with the emotions has played crusty old John Thorn- (Omar Sy) and Francoise (Cara bottle and finds a renewed sense In the best movies about pups they convey. Amping that up with ton, whose path crosses with a Gee). After the postal route is dis- of purpose when he sees the world and their humans, we get emo- techno-fakery was a bad idea. 140-pound St. Bernard-collie mix continued, the dogs are sold to through Buck’s eyes. tionally invested because that’s a “The Call of the Wild” is the named Buck, who led a posh and Hal (Dan Stevens), an abusive twit If only those eyes weren’t so real dog (or maybe multiple dogs latest in a long line of adaptations pampered life as a pet in Califor- of a gold prospector who dresses distractingly incongruous. ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE All times are Eastern unless Surrounded by a fantastic ensemble good, old-fashioned murder mystery Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, otherwise noted. cast, she’s front and center in this is one of those movies where it and Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Lincoln City (all times CT). Park bone-cracking visual feast, filled with looks like the immensely appealing Sundays. Closed major holidays. hours: Memorial Visitor Center, 8 screen-popping sets and costumes. cast -- including Daniel Craig, Jamie www.fallsoftheohio.org a.m.-3 p.m. daily through March 31; Current cinema (Action fantasy, R, 1 hr. 44 min.) Lee Curtis and Chris Evans -- had as farm, closed for the season; Colonel Indiana Caverns, 1267 Green Acres Jones Home, noon-4 p.m. Thursdays- New releases ê much fun making the film as we have Dolittle (Showplace Jasper 8) watching it. (Murder mystery/comedy, Lane S.W., Corydon. Features a Sundays, June-August. www.nps.gov/ êê Robert Downey Jr.’s eyes seem to Call of the Wild (Jasper 8 PG-13, 2 hrs 11 min., 2019) 25-minute boat ride, a waterfall, libo/ or 812-937-4541 Theatres) Nobody has been better glaze over with boredom as he plays thriving cave life and Big Bone suited to the role of prospector John the widowed doctor who brings Frozen 2 êêê An uplifting and Mountain. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way. Thornton than Harrison Ford. But his animal friends on a seafaring true-hearted and worthy (if not daily April through October and Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through March the dogs and wolves he encounters quest to find a mysterious curative equal) sequel to the 2013 mega- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily November 20. www.louisvillezoo.org in this film are computer-generated, fruit. By the time the doc operates blockbuster, this beautifully animated through March. Closed Christmas. Marengo Cave Park: The Crystal and there’s something unsettling and on a flatulent dragon, “Dolittle” film is sprinkled with good humor www.indianacaverns.com Palace walking tour features a artificial about their overly expressive has solidified its standing as a and filled with sister-power bonding Indiana Railway Museum, French formation-filled room and huge eyes. (Adventure, PG, 1hr. 45 min.) spectacularly terrible multi-vehicle moments. And there are more than flowstone deposits, while the pileup. (Fantasy adventure, PG, 1 hr. a few trippy, New Age-y detours along Lick. Excursion trains depart from the former Monon Railroad Dripstone Trail walking tour is known Currently playing 41 min.) the way. (Animated fantasy, PG, 1 hr. for its profusion of delicate soda 43 min., 2019) Passenger Station. The two-hour, 1917 êêêê (Showplace Jasper Fantasy Island êê (Showplace 20-mile trip takes passengers though straw formations, slender totem 8) With brilliant, claustrophobically Jasper 8) I loved the idea of turning several limestone rock cuts, part pole stalagmites and penny ceiling. effective directing choices by the cheesy “Fantasy Island” TV series IMAX of the Hoosier National Forest and Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. http:// Sam Mendes and strong, raw into a horror film, but this movie is all Showplace Cinemas East, 1801 the 2,200-foot Burton Tunnel. Train marengocave.com empty calories. It feels like someone performances from young leads Morgan Center Drive, Evansville: rides: 1 p.m. Saturdays beginning Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave., Dean-Charles Chapman and George planted a half-dozen different scripts “Parasite” and “Harley Quinn: Birds March 7; 1 p.m. Tuesdays beginning all over the island, and the attempt to Louisville. Historic Tram Tours, MacKay, this heart-stopping World of Prey.” www.showplacecinemas. March 17; and 1 p.m. Wednesday, Mega Zips and Mega Quest, an War I drama is a unique viewing tie all the stories together is such a com stretch, it’s a wonder nobody pulled a March 26. Special events: underground ropes challenge. Closed experience you won’t soon shake off. Chocolate Tasting Train, Fridays, major holidays. 877-614-6342 or (War action, R, 1 hr. 58 min.) hamstring. (Horror adventure, PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.) March 27 and April 10. Museum www.louisvillemegacavern.com êêê Events hours: Tuesdays, free. 800-748-7246 Bad Boys for Life Mesker Park Zoo, 1545 Mesker (Showplace Jasper 8) Though their Jumanji: The Next Level êêê Attractions or www.indianarailwaymuseum.org (Showplace Jasper 8) Like 2017’s Park Drive, Evansville. Hours (CT): 9 buddy cop characters have slowed Jasper City Mill, 160 Third Ave. The a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 812-435-6143 or down some, Will Smith and Martin “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” Angel Mounds Historic Site, 8215 this rousing, funny, warm-hearted, Pollack Ave., Evansville. Hours (CT): mill features cornmeal ground on www.meskerparkzoo.com Lawrence are great together as the site, craft items, old-fashioned candy badass crime fighters who remain old-fashioned adventure movie puts 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Wilstem Ranch, Paoli: Animal high school students into video Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. and local products. Exhibit (changes partners almost 20 years after “Bad every six months): Dubois County Encounters. www.wilstemranch.com Boys II.” Put reality on hold and just game avatars that look like Dwayne Closed major holidays. www. or 812-936-4484 Johnson, Kevin Hart and others. angelmounds.org Art Guild Gallery Walk, items from go with it. (Action, R, 2 hrs. 3 min.) artisans and rustic Amish furniture There’s more than enough charm to Big Splash Adventure, Valley of the Other events Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey overcome the occasional overlong available in the gift shop. Featured êêê½ (Showplace Jasper 8) Springs Resort, 8505 W.