Movie Review # 365: Tōgō (2019)

Good afternoon everyone! Hope you all have had a really fun Sunday this far. Anyway, today, we are talking about yet another Disney+ exclusive film that was released back in December of this past year. It takes place in Alaska, in the year 1925. Presenting the one and only Disney+ exclusive film, Togo.

Plot: The film takes place in the year 1925, in Nome, Alaska, when the children of that town were plagued with a pandemic by the name of diphtheria. Led by a musher named Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe), he, and a group of sled dogs, led by the head honcho dog, Togo, must race across the Alaskan wilderness, and face furious blizzards in order to bring the medicine back that will supposedly help save the children from the diphtheria.

Okay, how on Earth did this film just end up being a Disney+ exclusive film, and not also getting a theatrical release as well? Is it because another huge Disney property film by the name of Star Wars 9: The Rise Of Skywalker would be released around the same time as this film? Was it perhaps the fact that Disney+ was rather new to the general public at the time that Disney just decided to release some of their original films to that particular streaming service? One can only speculate those particular reasons. However, what pie must say is that this should have gotten a theatrical release sometime before March 2020, when of course theaters closed down, and will remain that way until either mid to late August for sure, or shortly after if they’re not forced to close their doors for good. But I digress! This film is apparently based on a true story, just like the 1995 Universal Pictures animated film, Balto, was. Part of what makes this film great is that even though this film revolves mostly around Togo, and the sled dogs, we also briefly get to see the REAL Balto, his team of sled dogs as well. What’s more is that Balto’s life is depicted in a much more accurate way than the 1995 animated film. Okay. Not to say that 1995’s Balto wasn’t good. It just seemed to add more things than it likely should have, you know? But hey, at least that Balto film still had a really good story. Anyway, the film Togo accurately depicts how difficult life was for Seppala, his wife, Constance, and for his sled dog team. It also does well with showing dogs, and their movements, in a much more realistic way. Considering that the 20th Century Fox film The Call Of The Wild, which was just released in theaters a couple months after this film, had the dogs look much more CGI, and had things happen that normally wouldn’t have happened in real life, that’s saying a lot. Okay, sure the difference between Togo, and Call Of The Wild, was that Togo was actually based on a true story, but still. Anyhow, the movie is fantastic at showing the emotions of humans, and some of the dogs to a lesser degree. Speaking of the dogs, Togo is really well-developed dog. For a dog, the filmmakers put so much personality into this animal character. Well done with that, filmmakers at Disney! For the humans, there’s the relationship between Leonhard, and his wife, Constance. There is such a great dynamic, and chemistry between these characters. They also serve as a great example of how realistic marriage is with couples. This is especially true with the fact that these couples had differing opinions, and had to agree to disagree when necessary. Yeah, we all know that marriage works very well like that. Now yes, some of the side characters are fleshed out fairly well too. However, the film really shines in this aspect by making the film focus mainly on both Mr. and Mrs. Seppala,, and their team of dogs, especially Togo himself. As for the story overall, it does a great job of showing just how difficult life was back then. It is amazing how much one can learn from this movie as to not only how difficult life was, but also how to think quickly on your feet when in dangerous situations. Willem Dafoe also makes an outstanding performance with Leonhard Seppala. Considering that he spent time playing villain roles in most of the films that he was in back in the 2000s, it’s definitely great to see him change up his game for movies like this, and the 2018 Warner Bros. film, Aquaman. In addition to this, I was surprised to discover that because of the diphtheria pandemic that occurred back in 1925, that area went through similar situations to what the US is facing in terms of businesses closing either temporarily, or permanently, and things like that. As for the fact that at least a few liberties were taken with Togo, if they were okay with animated film like, for example, the 1998 Dreamworks film, The Prince Of Egypt taking a few liberties with that film, people shouldn’t be as likely to be bothered by those changes here either. Sure, you may be somewhat disappointed that people like Leonhard and Constance’s daughter weren’t included in this film. Still, that’s why we have the Internet to look up real facts like that, you know? As for the ending, while it will probably make even grown men teary-eyed, people will be glad by the end that people get to hear some rather interesting facts about Togo, and Balto.

And that’s my review for 2019’s Disney+ film, Togo. It is a great story, with really great depth to it’s story, and characters, and a well-structured plot. The film also does well with making as accurate if a story as possible. I would say that if you at least want to do a free trial for Disney+, definitely one so to watch really great films like this. If there’s any way that people can get access to this film, they need to. You will enjoy this film from beginning to end, and find yourself wishing that this got a theatrical release, or even a more wide release by another company as well. There’s no doubt that even if some liberties are taken, or even if some things are left out, people will be glad about how closely accurate this film follows the actual account of Togo.

Final Grade: A+