r96sk
Sep 20, 2020
7/10
Surprisingly good.
'White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf' is a sequel that doesn't feel like it's needed, based on the original film's end, and is one that changes its cast. Those two things would, you'd assume, lead to a disappointing follow-up. That's not the case here.
Listen, it most probably doesn't need to exist. However, it still manages to create a followable story that's worth viewing. I didn't massively connect to it but I wasn't underwhelmed by it either. Add to that the strong performance of Scott Bairstow - he may be no Ethan Hawke, but I like what he gives to this. Of the rest of the cast, Al Harrington (Moses) and Charmaine Craig (Lily) are decent.
Going back to Hawke, who does appear momentarily at the beginning. The retcon job on his character and therefore the conclusion of the 1991 production is rather substandard. From a film point of view, it makes zero sense. With that said, for the plot it is serviceable - especially with Hawke's cameo to make it feel proper.
One understandable negative some may have is the less amount of screen time for White Fang himself. I actually did agree for a large portion while viewing, but by the end I was satisfied with how much I saw of the wolfdog. Did I want more of him? Sure, it's not a deal-breaker for me though.
Definitely inferior to the first film, but still a good watch in my opinion.