The Wild Life

(DVD release in North America: November 29, 2016)

Warnings—contains scary scenes for the very young

In North America this generally innocuous kid’s movie, a three dimensional animation, is called The Wild Life. In others places in the world it is called Robinson Crusoe. Watching it you’ll get the point of calling it The Wild Life.

When Robinson Crusoe [the character] is shipwrecked on an island (as the famous Crusoe story goes) the local animals are threatened by his presence, fearing he is encroaching on their space (as this re imagined Crusoe story goes).

A pig, a lizard, and something like hedgehogs fend Crusoe off the island and back to his half-damaged boat in some wild scenes.

A parrot is Crusoe’s saving grace. The bird manages to find out of Crusoe means the animals any harm, which, of course, he doesn’t. He’s shipwrecked and is glad for land if he can get on it.

Once the animals and Crusoe sort out their relational difficulties they get along mightily. Crusoe calls the parrot Tuesday. Though Crusoe’s circumstances are not idyllic, he makes something more idyllic of it than what could be. And the island he is on is a kind of paradise.

Idyllic

In an imperfect life, versions of island paradise may exist—a holiday, the best moments in a good job, a nice place alone, a beach home, a retirement place, watching television. Blissful times may not go smoothly, though.

On Crusoe’s island paradise, which is not a bad place to be marooned, if anyone was going to be marooned, there are challenges to keeping the island peaceful.

Sometimes I hate someone interrupting my writing, asking me to do something else that I want to put off. Paradise lost.

The Wild Life shows us that we are never promised an ideal life, but we can deal successfully with distractions and interruptions that rattle out ideal places and spaces.

It’s got to be done now even in the middle of bliss. Lawns to be cut, floors to be washed, going to the supermarket: now. We just have to deal with it and cherish the times that are idyllic.

I guess The Wild Life has a good message for children and adults may need reminding, too.