The Jungle Book: Movie Review

Rudyard Kipling’s classic story is now a big screen, live action adventure (for a second time). For those who forgot, back in 1994 Disney hired Stephen Sommers (“The Mummy”, “G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra”) to bring Mowgli’s story to life.  This time around Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”) has been tasked with breathing new life into “The Jungle Book”.  Although I can’t say I love the new film, I will admit that visually it’s an absolute wonder to behold.

When the villainous tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba) threatens to kill the man-cub Mowgli (Neel Sethi), he agrees to head to the nearest human village. Bagheera (voiced Ben Kingsley) takes it upon himself to make sure Mowgli gets to the village safely.  That plan is quickly thwarted when Shere Khan attacks the two and separating them.

Mowgli, now on his own, has a run-in with Kaa  (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), a python that has her own plans for the man-cub.  That is until Baloo the bear (voiced by Bill Murray) saves him.  The two become friends and wind up working together to secure honey for winter.  However, the threat of Shere Khan hasn’t gone away.

This latest version of “The Jungle Book” is just so beautiful and the CGI work with the animals is absolutely fantastic. Mowgli’s wolf-family looks so real at times.  Unfortunately I can’t say I was a fan of Mowgli himself.  Sethi did a really great job interacting with an all CGI cast. He is really the only real performer on screen.  It’s just that portrayal of Mowgli kind of annoyed me.   I was also not partial to Christopher Walken’s King Louie.  I didn’t feel his voice fit in the film, but when he started singing, it make it much worse.  Murray, Elba and Kingsley however  were definitely strong. As was Lupita Nyong’o as Raksha, Mowgli’s wolf-mother.

“The Jungle Book” is going to be a massive hit for Disney, that is to be sure.  It might not be a home-run creatively, but there is definitely enough here to please the families.

By: Marc Ferman