George of the Jungle (1997)
A movie review by Michael J. Legeros Copyright 1997 by Michael J. Legeros
(Walt Disney)
Directed by Sam Weisman
Written by Dana Olsen and Audrey Wells
Cast Brendan Fraser, Leslie Mann, Thomas Haden Church, Greg
Cruttwell, Abraham Benrubi, voice of John Cleese, voice
of Keith Scott
MPAA Rating "PG"
Running Time 96 minutes
==
Watch out for that theme! George, George, George of the Jungle will play in your head for a *week* after watching this agreeable adaptation of Jay Ward's classic 'toon. Brendan Fraiser (ENCINO MAN, AIRHEADS) is a dead-on delight as the butt-flapped tree knocker. I can't recall a comic performance this... rich since Eddie Murphy's nutty professor. He's backed by a surprisingly spry supporting cast: Anne Heche lookalike Leslie Mann as that funny-looking fella Ursula (envisioned here as an heiress on safari), Thomas Haden Church as her finicky fiancee, Keith Scott as the wisecracking narrator ("Meanwhile, at a very big and expensive waterfall set"), and John Cleese as the voice of George's tree house companion, a hyper-intelligent ape named Ape. Oh, and Richard Roundtree also appears as an African trail guide, though I believe even *he* has more screen time than the woefully under- utilized Cleese. (Ape *does* get his due in the film's final scene, however, which may be the wackiest bit in the entire movie.) Director Sam Weisman (BYE BYE, LOVE, D2: THE MIGHTY DUCKS) has the tone down pat, but his pacing leaves a lot to be desired. That GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE isn't frantic through and through is probably a good thing for the smaller kids in the audience. And their slower-witted parents.
Grade: B-
--
Mike Legeros - Movie Hell http://www.nonvirtual.com/hell/
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