Years ago a family suffered through a tragic event, a plane crash, and baby George was left behind in the jungle to fend for himself until a one-of-a-kind primate, an ape named Ape (John Cleese), rescued and raised him. Now an adult, George of the Jungle (Brendan Fraser) lives among the animals and has befriended nearly every living creature in the African jungle in which he lives. One day, by chance, George meets Ursula Stanhope (Leslie Mann), a young, wealthy heiress, after her and her fiancé, Lyle Van de Groot (Thomas Haden Church), are attacked by a lion. As George and Ursula learn more and more about one another, their relationship develops into something that George never knew existed. With this newfound love, George understands that life as he has known it for years will never be the same and that his priorities, as they begin to shift, will lead him down an unexpected road.
George of the Jungle is nothing if not ridiculous. The story, while an odd adaptation of the classic Tarzan of the Apes, is so weirdly unruly and unpredictable that it appeals to a very specific group of viewers, children (and some children may even find this film laughable). The absurdities that plague this film are so deeply flawed that it seems nearly impossible for viewers to find them entertaining. From the opening moments, as Keith Scott narrates George’s early childhood, audiences quickly understand that they are in for a long hour and a half. With a series of juvenile animations, it seems clear, quite early, that the rest of the film would contain utter nonsense that might be difficult to appreciate. While there are flashes of comedy and drama that may be deemed adequate, the unfortunate series of ludicrosities that make up this film are hard to overlook and ultimately deflate any possibility of success.
With everything the film has going against it, Fraser’s performance as George of the Jungle is quite impressive. Fraser is tasked with presenting the world with an idiotic rendition of the popular Tarzan, and manages to deliver. Even throughout his most ridiculous scenes, Fraser is able to fill the space on screen, embody the outrageousness that is his character and fully embrace the often whimsical nature of the naive George. The wide-range of emotions that George feels throughout George of the Jungle are presented with brilliance and are the silver lining in this otherwise substandard film.
It’s hard to understand the allure of Disney’s failed attempt at a live-action George of the Jungle as most of what takes place on film could be replicated by children in their own backyard. Disney rarely fails, but manages to deliver what might be considered one of their worst films to date. George of the Jungle fails to deliver drama, laughs or even an original story that is able to keep audiences engaged. The continued success of this film lies heavily in the hands of children, and I think there is a strong possibility that modern children will struggle to find the appeal of a film this ridiculous.
Directed by Sam Weisman. Written by Jay Ward, Dana Olsen and Audrey Wells. Starring Brendan Fraser, Leslie Mann, Thomas Haden Church, John Cleese, Keith Scott, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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