‘White Fang’ Is the Wholesome Family Movie You Need to Watch

White Fang: The 1991 Disney Classic Your Family Needs to See

Most parents think action-adventure means explosions and car chases. But the movies that leave lasting memories with your kids? They're the ones that show them something real they may not have experienced before. And that's exactly what White Fang does.

This 1991 Disney classic is the family movie night pick you won't regret. It's perfect for ages eight and up, and there are just a couple of caveats you'll want to know before you hit play.

The Story of 'White Fang'

White Fang is an adaptation of Jack London's novel, set in Alaska around the late 1800s during the Gold Rush. People are flooding into this wild, treacherous landscape, trying to strike it rich.

The main characters—Jack Conroy, played by Ethan Hawke, and Alex Larson, played by Klaus Maria Brandauer—don't exactly get off on the right foot. But you're going to see their relationship evolve from pretty antagonistic all the way to a deep friendship by the end.

And the star of the show? None other than Jed, who plays White Fang.

White Fang goes from being a pup raised by a tribesman to being sold to a not-so-kind man who uses him for his own financial gain, before ending up with Jack, who then has to earn White Fang's trust. They become inseparable, going everywhere together.

'White Fang' is Real Filmmaking That Brings the Book to Life

The entire movie was filmed in Alaska with real animals—the kind of filmmaking that brings a story to life. Most studios stopped doing this a long time ago, and you can really see the difference on screen.

According to Ethan Hawke himself, who was around 18 at the time, he spent months building rapport with Jed and the other animals on set. He said there was no internet, no phone, just him and the wolves earning their trust. And that's what it took to make those performances feel real.

Breathtaking Scenery in 'White Fang'

The scenery in this movie is absolutely breathtaking. We're talking green mountains, lush blue skies, lakes, rivers, and so much more. It's just a feast for the eyes. My daughter has asked me more than once while watching this movie if we can ever visit Alaska one day and see all the locations where White Fang was filmed.

What Makes 'White Fang' Special

This movie does something special to kids. My daughter has watched it an umpteen number of times—like mother, like daughter, I guess. When I was putting this episode together, I asked her if she wanted to share what she loves about it. Here's what she said:

"I just needed to say that White Fang is absolutely one of the best family movies that has ever been created and that it's one of my favorite movies to watch with my mom all the time. I just love all the scenery and I love the wolves. I think that all the actors actually did a wonderful job acting, especially Ethan Hawke. He did such a wonderful job acting in that end scene and the wolves and the animals as well all did a good job acting. This movie is very fun and action-packed and it's great for the whole family. And I think if you'll give it a chance, you'll love it."

I agree with everything she just said.

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Life Lessons Your Kids Will Learn from 'White Fang'

Let's get into what your kids are actually going to walk away with from this movie, because there's a lot to cover.

Keeping Your Word

There's an early scene where Jack and Alex are mushing through the harsh conditions of Alaska. They're carrying the body of Alex's deceased friend back to his home to bury him because Alex promised him that. Jack is exhausted, they're cold, and at one point they stop in the middle of nowhere for a minute. Jack looks at Alex and says, "Can't we just bury him here? I don't think he'll know the difference."

And Alex looks at him and says, "I gave him my word."

And then they mush on. That's it.

'White Fang's' Unlikely Friendships

The friendship between Jack and Alex is compelling. Remember, they didn't like each other in the beginning, and part of that comes from the fact that Alex can't read and Jack can.

Later in the movie, Jack is teaching Alex how to read. It's a funny scene because you can see Jack's getting a little tired and frustrated—which, as a homeschool mom or any mom in general teaching your kids to read at any age, we all go through those frustrations now and then.

Alex is reading the passage: "When the door was finally open and the f-f-f-ffff foul? Like the birds?"

Jack says, "No, no. Foul like the birds is f-o-w-l. This is f-o-u-l. Foul, like a bad smell, like rotten." And then he grabs Alex's sock right off their drying line above him and throws it at him and says, "Like, your socks smell foul!"

This is one of mine and my daughter's favorite parts of the movie. I'll never forget the memories with my dad—this part was always his favorite scene. It's just a sample of the humor woven throughout the movie.

It's really interesting to see how even kids today, like my own, when they watch this for the first time, can see how people who didn't get along can evolve and become close friends. Even when they don't agree on everything, they just forgive, forget, and move on. My daughter has said, "Too bad more people can't be like that today."

'White Fang' Shows The Value of Building Things

Another important characteristic is seeing people in this movie know how to build things. Jack and Alex have to fix up a rundown cabin and rebuild it themselves. There's no such thing as Home Depot here. They're making the support beams, drainage systems for the mine, the wagons, tracks—all of it from scratch. It's really mind-blowing.

There's something really grounding about watching people use their hands and build things they needed to survive. My daughter and my son say, "Wow, how did they make all that stuff?"

It reminds me of MacGyver, who's the master of survival and building things out of whatever he can find.

Learning to Let Go

And here's the big one: letting go. Near the end, Jack has to decide whether to keep White Fang or let him go. And watching Jack wrestle with that decision is something I'm sure we can all relate to.

It reminds me of another Disney movie called Cheetah. There's a quote that has stuck with me all these decades: "When you love something, loss can be part of the bargain." Wow. That's a life lesson that kids can easily understand.

What Parents Need to Know about 'White Fang'

Before you hit play, there are actually two caveats about this film.

This movie is clean. There's no gore, no cursing—well, actually there is one. I won't say the word, but the man who says this word is using it in its proper context to describe a female dog. I'm sure you know where I'm getting at. It's just said one time really quick, and it's so fast it may or may not be heard. There's also no sex or nudity.

However, there are scenes of dog fighting in the movie that you may or may not want your kids to see, depending on how sensitive they are or how you feel about the subject.

Jed's Incredible Performance in 'White Fang'

Now I'm circling back to Jed here and his acting in this movie. It's just incredible. It's amazing how animal trainers like Clint Rowe were able to produce these kinds of top-level acting animals. Jed gives an incredible performance, and you can feel the emotion coming off of this animal.

There's one scene where Jack's life is in danger. Will White Fang come to his rescue? It's an awesome showdown that any kid is going to be impressed by. I remember this scene in the theater when my dad took me to see it. There were so many moments like this one where kids were just clapping, and I can hear the murmuring of kids asking their parents, "How did he do that?" It's a movie that is definitely mesmerizing for kids.

Where to Watch 'White Fang'

You can find White Fang on YouTube Movies, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and Fandango.

Final Thoughts on 'White Fang'

White Fang is a family-friendly movie that works on so many levels. It's a good story, real animals, stunning scenery, and a friendship story your kids will remember. It is truly family entertainment at its best.

If this review helped you find a movie your family is going to love, do me a favor and head over to Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. It helps other families find this show and maybe their next favorite movie too.

Join me next week where I'm going to talk about an edge-of-your-seat thriller—something unimaginable that happened back in 1988. Don't miss it.

Thanks for reading. As always, enjoy the rest of your week. Happy watching, and remember: your values matter and your TV does too.