Tag along with the malamute puppy, Nikki, as he grows up in this next movie. For this project, I’m focusing on the story itself, including dialogue, character development, any subplots, how a story presents itself, the speed at which it moves, if it slows down unnecessarily, etc.
A Brief Summary
(Taken from D23)
Andre Dupas, a French-Canadian hunter, finds a dead mother-bear, and deciding to save her cub from sure death by raising it himself, ties the cub, Neewa, to his malamute pup, Nikki, and continues paddling down the river. At the rapids, the canoe overturns, and the animals are washed away, still tied together. They discover they have to cooperate to survive, and even though they eventually break loose from each other, they become friends until a winter hibernation leaves Nikki on his own. Nikki grows into a powerful dog but is captured by a cruel hunter, LeBeau, who makes him into a savage fighter and takes him to the trading post run by Dupas, who has banned the customary dogfighting. LeBeau ignores the ruling, fights Nikki, and is thrown out by Dupas whom he then shoves into the dog pit, expecting the savage Nikki to tear him to bits. Nikki recognizes his old master, and the enraged LeBeau springs into the pit to kill Dupas himself. When he finds he is losing the battle he treacherously pulls a knife, but Nikki springs on him. LeBeau falls on his own knife, killing himself. Nikki and Dupas are reunited.
What works
- Because the narration gives off True-Life Adventure vibes, the movie itself feels like a more scripted version of Perri.
- It’s kind of cool watching Nikki & Neewa learn to live together (while still tied together)
- I like Andre as a character, but I like him a lot more at the end than at the beginning. He just doesn’t have much purpose at the beginning other than helping to set up the rest of the movie.
- Human scenes are some of the most enjoyable scenes in the movie.
- LeBeau is giving off some strong Stromboli vibes (from Pinocchio)
- Makoki (Indian guide) seems like a cool dude with a better and more level head on his shoulders
- I love the moments when LeBeau mocks Mokoki for something Mokoki said and then realizes that he’s right
- Makoki being forced to watch as LeBeau beats Nikki was painful, but really helped demonstrate what LeBeau
- 3rd chapter (reunion w/man) is the best part of the movie, hands down.
- I thought the ending was fine, and it seemed to wrap everything up neatly.
What may or may not work
- The narration itself is hit or miss for me. It had its purpose, but you can only do so much with the presented material.
- Thank goodness Neewa and Nikki are tied together, otherwise it would be even more boring than it already is.
- There was pretty slow pacing without human interaction.
- After the leather strap (leather thong) that tied the two together is gone, the movie gets a bit meh
- doesn’t pick up again really until Nikki starts stealing food from the trapline.
- the return of Makusa (who had killed Neewa’s mother at the beginning) didn’t seem to serve any plot purpose
- also, Nikki tricking Makusa into the log and then sending it rolling down a hill seemed a bit much
- They maybe did too good a job at showing the contrast between LeBeau and Andre. On the one hand, it was nice having a clear-cut line between the two, but also they’re so black and white as far as characters go, that it left me feeling I didn’t get much out of LeBeau’s character other than a good final fight.
Honorable Mentions
- “rejected by man, he belonged to the wilderness now, but nature was ready & willing to continue his education” – best ‘I’m about to get screwed’ line yet
- “And so past differences were forgotten and they would find in friendship, a tie far stronger than a leather thong.”
- “cruel, savage, not human, bloodthirsty” -the description given as to why dog fighting was banned at the trading fort.
- LeBeau & Andre fight w/legs not hands
- Mokoki slicing Nikki’s rope saved the day.
Side Questions
- “call of the wilderness was fainter now, call of the man was clear”
- he literally was away from Andre for almost as much time, if not longer than, he had lived with Andre to begin with. I don’t understand.
Would I watch this movie again?
- As I really just enjoyed an early scene French song and then the last 20 minutes (I swear there is a trend growing and has been since sometime in the mid-1950s of me only enjoying the last 20 minutes of movies), I probably won’t watch it again until it winds up on Disney+. It was fine, but it didn’t move me in a way that I would feel compelled to rent it again unless I have a reason to do so. Which I’m pretty sure I won’t.
If you’ve seen Nikki, Wild Dog of the North, what are some of your thoughts? Share in the comments below!
Rewind to the beginning of the Disney Film Project
Skip back to the previous film with The Parent Trap
Fast Forward to the next film with Greyfriars Bobby
Nikki, Wild Dog of the North can be found at Youtube
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