Heart of the Beast: Survival Is Better With a Friend
One of the hardest things a soldier can do is walk away from the life they have known for so many years. The training, experiences, and stress from war can follow them even after they return home. For Sgt. James Belmont (Brad Pitt), retirement gives him a chance to finally get away from that lifestyle. Luckily, in Heart of the Beast he doesn't have to do it alone, as his loyal dog and partner Odin (Uber the dog) remains by his side. What starts as a retirement trip for the two soon becomes something much more dangerous than either of them expected.
Trying to find some closure after his years as a Green Beret, James takes Odin along with him on a trip into the wilderness. Instead of getting the peaceful experience he was looking for, the two find themselves dealing with the dangers of the jungle and the wildlife living inside it. Having spent years training and working together during war, James and Odin are forced to rely on those skills once again. Their relationship becomes important throughout the journey, especially when survival begins to depend on how much the two trust each other.
Taking somewhat of a backseat in the film, Brad Pitt gives Odin the opportunity to become the real star of the movie. This was actually one of the better decisions made throughout Heart of the Beast. Odin is strong, caring, and courageous, but the movie could have done much more with him. I would have liked to see Odin separated from James for a longer period of time and forced to make his own way through the jungle. Watching him use his instincts and training while facing the wildlife alone could have created some of the movie's most exciting moments. Instead, the story keeps returning to James when Odin is really the character you want to see more of.
Attempting to mix an emotional story between a soldier and his dog with a wilderness survival adventure, Heart of the Beast has a good idea but doesn't do enough with it. The jungle and wildlife bring some intense moments, while James and Odin's relationship gives the story some heart. Brad Pitt stepping aside and allowing the dog to have the spotlight was a nice surprise, but that also makes it disappointing that Odin wasn't given more time on his own. There are some thrilling moments along the way, but the film needed to take more chances with its best character to make the adventure something worth remembering.
Final Comment: I based my grade on the connection shared between James and Odin and the breathtaking wilderness shots throughout the film. Odin easily steals the spotlight, but not giving him more of his own journey through the jungle kept the movie from reaching its full potential.
Stars: 2 out of 5
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