The Swinger Movie To See

by Jason R. Hewlett

I grew up reading the original "Tarzan" novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I've always found the character of Tarzan to be an interesting one. A human child raised by apes in the jungles of Africa after his human parents are shipwrecked and killed by animals. That's a cool concept. His question over which world he belongs in, human or ape, is a compelling to me as well. Hey, when a character lasts for about one hundred years something must be working.

To me the 1987 film "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" is the definitive Tarzan film. Though flawed it captured the character and drama of Burrough's novels and presented the true visualization of the Tarzan character: a person who is intelligent and very much human despite being raised by apes. This is a fact often lost in many Tarzan films, which depict the character as a lumbering savage in the "Me Tarzan, you Jane" persona.

So along comes the Disney animated version. I was a bit wary when I heard of the project. Disney has a tendency of watering down classic tales when it translates them into a kiddie flick. I shuddered to think about what they would do to a character I had grown up with. Luckily my worries were, for the most part, unfounded.

Aside from a few moments of pure Disney fluff, a group of young gorillas turning a human base camp into an impromptu orchestra to name one, the film is actually pretty grown up in its' approach to the source material...as grown up as a kid flick can be. There is true emotion and drama at the heart of this film which has been missing in many of the "Tarzan" movies and T.V. shows that have sprung up over the years. There are also several moments of pure excitement as well, most notably the sequence where baby Tarzan is rescued from a hungry cheetah by Kala, the ape who becomes his adopted mother.

I'm also happy to say that the musical numbers, which are sadly the staple of so many kid cartoons and the bane of my existence, have been lost in favor of a great Phil Collins set of songs that act as background music. I've always like Phil Collins' work and it's solid here.

Another plus is the vocal cast. Tony Goldwyn is perfect as Tarzan. He's articulate, bold, and sympathetic as Burroughs' intelligent ape man. Minnie Driver makes for a witty and, dare I say, sexy Jane while Glenn Close and the great Lance Henrikson lend their distinct vocal talents to Kala and Kerchak, Tarzan's ape "parents." The only weak link here is Rosie O'Donnell, who turns Tarzan's young ape playmate Terk into an obnoxious bid at comic relief in the "Great Disney Tradition."

For the most part I really enjoyed Tarzan and I'm sure Mr. Burroughs would be pleased with the end result as well. No "Greystoke," but no misfire either.

7 out of 10!