REVIEW: Bear Grylls, You vs. Wild: Animals On The Loose

 REVIEW: Bear Grylls, You vs. Wild: Animals On The Loose

Ever since Black Mirror debuted their choose-your-own-adventure movie Bandersnatch, Netflix seem to have really doubled down on these interactive stories. It's an area that clearly interests the streaming service greatly, although it's weird that the idea has suddenly gained prominence now, given that the concept has been around virtually forever. Bear Grylls' attempt, 'Animals On The Loose', is a film adaptation of his interactive family series 'You vs. Wild', and the feature adaptation provides somewhat mixed results.

The idea is a sound one. Bear Grylls is completing conversation work at a sanctuary, when poachers break into the facility and set the animals free. It's a serviceable plot that provides a solid structure for the movie, and explains why the viewer has been drafted in to assist Bear on his latest endeavour. This results in various fourth wall-breaking sequences in which Bear directly addresses the audience and asks what he should do,  placing the choice firmly in the audience's hands.

The problem is that the audience's decisions don't leave much effect on the narrative. Making the wrong choice merely leads you back to the beginning of the scene where you messed up, which can lead to the film feeling somewhat repetitive when you are forced to sit through large chunks of footage that you've already seen. It would be better had they found a way for an incorrect outcome to lead to new sequences that audiences would otherwise not witness if they made the right call, as it would at least provide a new aspect to the narrative rather than merely forcing viewers to watch what came before.

The other issue that the solutions to protecting these animals or returning them to their habitats don't exactly feel true to life. The most obvious example of this is when Bear tries to hide a herd of elephants from the view of the poachers driving past the river. To achieve this feat, he simply leads them behind the trees and tells them to shush. Remarkably it works, but it's clear as day that in real life elephants would not simply obey a human instruction such as this. It's too convenient, and stretches credibility.

There are some truly exciting moments of peril featured in this movie however. One standout scene sees Bear nearly chocked to death by a snake hiding in the river, whilst another displays a face-off between a cheetah and a baboon. These scenes are a ton of fun to watch, and help to establish the danger behind these animals being on the loose, not just for the humans but for the animals themselves. The strongest moments are when the film leaves you wondering if this fictional version of Bear or the animals could actually die, as it least injects an element of risk to the choices you are about to make.

Bear Grylls himself also makes for a likeable presence. He's an endearing guide for the audience, providing helpful tips and pointers for survival techniques in the wild. The audience's familiarity with Bear also adds an air of legitimacy to proceedings, as we are used to see him hosting documentaries about natural survival in his extensive list of television shows. He's someone who has broad international as well as British appeal, making the selection of Bear as the film's guiding figure a smart choice indeed.

It is a little on the short side for a feature movie however. You V Wild: Animals On The Loose clocks in at around only an hour in length, which feels more like a running time for a television special than something billed as a feature film. Most movies usually average at around 75 to 90 minutes in length, which means Animals On The Loose falls somewhat on the short side compared to most feature attempts. It's a shame that they couldn't have expanded this runtime to at least a 75 minute running time, as 60 minutes leaves the viewer feeling somewhat shortchanged.

Overall, 'Animals On The Loose' provides a passable attempt at an interactive film. Whilst the solutions to the escaped animal issue feel somewhat unrealistic and the movie can feel a little repetitive if you make the wrong choices, its likeable lead and fun moments of peril allow it to rise above its less than stellar elements, and provide a solid piece of entertainment if there's nothing else to watch. Just leave your brain behind at the door and you should be fine.

What are your thoughts on You Vs. The Wild: Animals On The Loose? Let me know in the comments.