THE JUNGLE BOOK – Review

Disney has released two talking animal films this year and both have a lot to say. While ZOOTOPIA wowed many with its strong female lead that’s not afraid to take on a stubborn and judgmental world, I found it a bit preachy and heavy-handed – not balancing the fun factor with the weight of the social commentary. Prior to the expedition into THE JUNGLE BOOK, I didn’t know what to expect. It has been decades since I’ve seen the animated film or the live action film. And while I know the story, I’m not sure I was necessarily aware of the degree of subtext inherent in the story. Either that, or Jon Favreau isn’t afraid to let his call of the wild echo through the jungle.

One of the running themes in the film is that because Mowgli is human, he has the gift of intellect and problem-solving. He uses “tricks” to get out of a bind, or in most cases, to help others succeed or survive (as is the case when he helps the bear Baloo get his honey). The classic story of a boy who embraces his animal instincts and his humanity is punctuated with just enough heart and the right amount of social awareness this time around by Disney.

The man-cub Mowgli (Neel Sethi) lives his life wild and free with a pack of wolves in the jungle. But when his life and the lives of the pack are threatened by the tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba), Mowgli runs away from home in search of the human village where he “belongs.” Guided by Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) the panther and the bear Baloo (Bill Murray), Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, where he encounters the seductive snake Kaa (Scarlett Johannson) and the giant ape King Louie (Christopher Walken).

Jon Favreau hits the ground running both literally and figuratively. The film opens with Mowgli running with the wolves through the jungle, and the viewer immediately is thrown into a visually lush treat for the eyes. Your eyes are forced to adjust to the visual effects – that look extraordinarily real, and yet you know they aren’t. But wait, there’s another catch. You are then asked to perform another task. The visual adjustment is followed immediately by having to accept that the animals talk to our young jungle boy. Yes, of course, this is the point of the film, but could it have been not as jarring? I can’t help but think about the stunning opening of Matt Reeves’ DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. That film doesn’t immediately throw the audience into accepting talking animals. It’s a slower process that takes into consideration what audiences are used to viewing from photo-realistic animals. To ease into both the hyper-realistic visuals and the fact that the majority of the main characters are CGI creations that are going to be talking to us, it might have been better to ease into the anthropomorphic jungle.

The voice talents on display are almost all superb, the highlights being the incomparable Bill Murray and Idris Elba, in a terrifying turn. The idea of having Murray play an iconic animated character seems like a hard challenge to overcome, but you can practically see Murray smiling through the lovable character’s muzzle.  His old-world voice doesn’t come across as curmudgeonly as it sometimes does. Murray’s heart of gold still shines through the fur and the claws, making this another memorable moment in his iconic career.

The chemistry between Murray and young newcomer Neel Sethi is infectious. Their charming banter builds and builds to the rousing moment when they finally start to sing “Bare Necessities” while floating down the river. Watching Sethi splash water on Baloo and play the bear’s belly like a drum is a crowd-pleasing moment for fans of the 1967 animated feature.

The same can’t be said about the other main musical number. “I Wanna Be Like You” seems out of place after King Louie is presented as this hulking mafioso in the shadows. It’s played like a sly, jazz-infused spoken-word poem, but that doesn’t fix the fact that it comes across as shoe-horned and just as a way for this version of the film to feel more like the old version.

Seeing THE JUNGLE BOOK in IMAX 3D truly is an immersive experience. Every buzz and hum from an insect and every blade of grass comes to life. The artistry on-display is worth the price of admission alone. However, leaving the young ones at home might be something to consider. Regardless of the fact that the film has a PG rating – which more or less is an invitation to bring all children – THE JUNGLE BOOK is surprisingly intense as times. Shockingly intense, in fact. Sure, Rudyard Kipling’s original novel wasn’t intended as a children’s book, but that’s not exactly what Disney is adapting this time around. They are adapting their own 1967 animated film, which is a children’s film. Mistaking the innocence found in that film with the harsh reality of life-like tigers swiping out from the screen and viciously attacking other animals could prove detrimental if you’re a parent to a sensitive child.

Jon Favreau did not make a children’s movie. However, he made a great and thrilling film that most of the family can enjoy. These gorgeously rendered talking animals not only come to life on-screen, but they speak about life as well. Reminding us that despite our differences, we can still coexist and work together as a family. And that my friends, is “the bare necessities of life.”

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

THE JUNGLE BOOK is now playing in theaters everywhere