George of the Jungle (1997)

Disney screwed up big time by including a line from the narrator in the film about "don't worry, none of the people die, they just get boo boos" and then DID NOT make the same statement around a scene involving beating up on a lion. BAD FORM DISNEY. There was also a fight scene that was unnecessarily violent and long. The one scene catching George out of his clothes was cute and nothing showed, but it was done in a way that made it clear he was really naked, one more thing knocking it off the list for children under I'd say the age of 13 or 14.

'George of the Jungle' is one fun goofball movie that most people will love. After all, the movie humor is based off the 1960's cartoon of the same name made by Jay Ward & Bill Scott, the same guys that help made 'the Rocky and Bullwinkle show'. A parody of author, Edgar Rice Burroughs's novel, 'Tarzan of the Apes'; the show and film tells a fish out of water story of an extremely clumsy and dimwitted, wild man named George (Brendan Fraser) trying to live with his wealthy love interest, Ursula (Leslie Mann) in the big city. However, the call of the wild is calling him back, to save the jungle, from some unwanted poachers wanted to capture, his friend/mentor Ape (Voiced by John Cleese). Without spoiling the movie, too much, if this plot sounds familiar, yes, it nearly a carbon copy of the plot of 'Jungle 2 Jungle', also released by Disney on the same year. Honestly, if you take away, most of clever take itself not so serious, self-aware humor from this movie, you're left with a generic somewhat cheesy tiresome plot with bad CGI, and men in badly made ape costumes. Thank goodness, the movie directed by Sam Weisman is so funny, that we can overlook that, and see it for what it is: a light-hearted parody. It's as close to being a live-action cartoon as possible. Surprising, that's a good thing since the plot is so plain. The way the movie was shot in slapstick form remind me, of the Looney Toons shorts with the Roadrunner and the Wyle E. Coyote. As the narrator explains, in this film nobody dies, but they will "get big boo-boos". George smashing into trees is particularly a Running Gag. Even without the dialogue jokes, the physical comedy is that universal. While, yes, the violence might led to kids accidentally hurting themselves emulating moves learned from the film, but I have to say, it's a risk worth taking, because physical comedy in a live action Disney movie has never been so funny. While, yes, there is some cringe-worthy dark moments, like apes wanting to rape the villain, Lyle (Thomas Haden Church) or a bird getting shove in somebody ass. For the most part, the childish slapstick and toilet humor, are used correctly to the point, that it's not too annoying, or offensive to watch. Surprising, most of jokes are not even that low brow. I like how the film has some wily humor to counteract the few amounts of juvenile absurdity. The way the film used cool, 'breaking the fourth wall' moments, risky sexual innuendos, exaggeration narratives, smart wordplay and puns, and some fun surrealism were great. Not only, did those jokes hit the funny bone for adults, but it was clear enough for kids to understand as well. Perhaps, that might turn off, some viewers off, but I do like comedies which the whole family can enjoy together. Also, I like how the actors delivered the jokes, throughout it. Fraser, Cleese, Mann & Thomas Haden Church gave us, some of the best facial reactions ever. I wouldn't call it, the best acting, but it was fine, for what they were given. All of the characters were pretty likable. Nevertheless, I like George the most. He's sweet, soulful, courageous, in touch with his emotions, and spends most of the movie running around in nothing, but a six pack chest and small loincloth. So, it was no surprise that most women love this movie. The title song is catchy, however, I can do, without the flashing light, title opening, after the cartoon, as it can potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. I also can do, without the fake looking locations mixed with the real-life locations. It was a bit distracting. Plus, I didn't like the whole shooting in the head gag. It probably should had been change. Better yet, have it cut like the delete scenes, where George saving Ursula from a quicksand pit, George exploring the mall and Lyle returning from jail with a shaved head and eye patch. It was not funny. It was a bit disturbing. Still, it's weird that everyone thought this movie was going to flop, but its things like what I listed, that made this movie into a box-office success and relatively well-received with critics. Even Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert love this film. Indeed, Disney presents the smash hit comedy that families everywhere went bananas over! Overall: For a movie that clearly should've been dead on arrival, it's actually very enjoyable. Kids love it, adults seem to like it, what's not to enjoy? In the end, go ahead and swing on it. It's that fun to watch. Highly recommended.

George (Brendan Fraser) was lost in a plane crash in central Africa as a baby. He grows up with his animal friends talking gorilla Ape and Shep the elephant. Twenty five years later, heiress Ursula Stanhope (Leslie Mann) is on a safari. She is annoyed by the arrival of her fiancé Lyle Van de Groot (Thomas Haden Church) who is traveling with poachers Max (Greg Cruttwell) and Thor (Abraham Benrubi). George rescues Ursula from a lion and brings her back to his home. Lyle finds them and shoots George. Lyle is sent to African prison. Ursula takes George back to San Francisco. Her mother (Holland Taylor) refuses to accept the jungle man.Brendan Fraser is essentially redoing Link from Encino Man. This is an one-joke character and he's does the one-joke great. The section I like the most is on the bridge. The rescue was fun and everybody gets to say "Watch out for that...!" The narration is reminiscent of the cartoon. The plot created around this character isn't that compelling. It can't expand beyond the animated shorts. I also think George needs to be dumber for him to be funny.

For starters - When it came to that whole business of George repeatedly crashing into trees while swinging from a vine (which was supposed to be one of this picture's comical high points) - Believe me, it all became really tiresome and totally stale, real fast.Instead of this stunt producing big laughs, it only succeeded in making me cringe and roll my eyes to the ceiling out of bored exasperation. It actually got to the point where I found myself hoping that George would, indeed, seriously injure himself the next time he came face-to-face with another tree trunk. But, my wish was never granted.Not only that, but, I found that the annoying & unfunny voice-over narration that cropped-up throughout the story didn't help matters much, either. And as far as the George character went, I thought that Brendan Fraser was clearly miscast for his part and his performance unbelievably irritating, to boot.When George arrived in the "civilized" world, that certainly made his character look even more stupid than ever.If you ask me - This $55 million, live-action cartoon tried way-way too hard to be funny, but regardless of all of its zany, slapstick comedy, it only succeeded in falling flat on its face for the most part.Based on the characters from a very mediocre TV cartoon series from 1967, George Of The Jungle was strictly geared for an audience that has very low expectations about what encourages them to laugh.