Togo review – a man and his dog movie done right

As another Disney-produced “older man and his dog head out into the wilderness” adventure, it would be easy to confuse Togo with recent Harrison Ford-starring tale The Call of the Wild, based on Jack London’s classic novel. Yet this film, lacking a theatrical window and released straight to Disney’s brand new streaming service, is a vastly superior offering that’s visceral and immediate where its stablemate was weightless and over-reliant on shonky CGI.

Based on the life story of Leonhard Seppala (played here by Willem Dafoe) and his trusty dog sled team, led by the eponymous Togo, the film mostly takes place in 1925 as Seppala’s remote Alaskan village of Nome finds itself facing a outbreak of diphtheria, threatening the lives of the local children. As the best musher (aka dog-sled delivery man), Seppala is charged with a perilous journey through the storm-hit tundra to retrieve the life-saving medicinal serums.

The best decision that Ericson Core makes is grounding Togo in as much reality as possible. Shooting in epic, wintry locations and very rarely having to settle for computer-generated dogs, Seppala and his canine pal’s quest has genuine beauty and peril at every step. Even when CG becomes necessary, most notably during an absurdly dangerous crossing of a rapidly thawing frozen sea, this grounding physicality keeps things thrilling.

In committing to always using real huskies – which can’t have been easy – Togo also gets an all-time great dog performance from its canine star (only fitting for the dog named “history’s most heroic animal” in 2011). Togo is a compelling screen presence, clearly trained and handled by a master of the craft, making his way through long and complex scenes without missing a beat or compromising his cuteness. Better yet, the puppy version of Togo, glimpsed in flashbacks, puts in a similarly strong performance and proves just as adorable.

At times these flashbacks give the effect of a movie spinning its wheels, but they still manage to flesh out the world in an enjoyable way – especially in the case of the surprisingly deep and complex relationship between Seppala and his wife Constance (Julianne Nicholson). Their marriage is given the attention it deserves, and Constance isn’t relegated to playing the “worried wife back home,” instead taking an active part in Togo’s training and the eventual medicine delivery.

Dafoe, meanwhile, proves perfect casting, his unique cragginess making him pretty much the only person in Hollywood who’s believable as a ‘20s Norwegian-Alaskan outdoorsman. His rousing rendition of Henry V’s “Saint Crispin Day” speech, utilised in a scene in order to spur his dogs on, feels a little silly in the moment, but even this manages to draw a huge, sincere smile.

With only a couple of missteps to its name, Core and writer Tom Flynn toe the line between earnest and saccharine with skill, and a montage toward the end of Togo’s puppyhood and adulthood, set to Max Richter’s “On the Nature of Daylight,” all but guarantees tears. Sentimental but packing genuine bite, Togo will no doubt go down as a family favourite for years to come.

Togo is now available on Disney+.