The Jungle Book - Film Review

We’re living in the cinematic age of ‘if you remake it, they will come.’

Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true as evidenced by some truly pathetic attempts over the years, but with 2015’s Cinderella, Disney discovered a veritable gold mine in re-purposing their classic animated fare as live-action films. Despite its predictability, Cinderella benefited greatly from Kenneth Brahnagh’s steady direction and a charming cast.

This year Disney hopes to repeat that success with its remake of The Jungle Book and if the strong weekend box office and critical response are any indication, they’ll be plunging the depths of their animated repertoire and releasing live-action remakes for years to come. While it’s easy to be cynical about this prospect, it’s hard not to be won over by the heartfelt, technical marvel that is Jon Favreau’s take on the beloved Disney tale, even if it doesn't have anything new to add to the table.

Chances are you already know the story and it’s largely intact here with few alterations. As an infant, Mowgli was discovered in the jungle by the kindhearted panther Bagheera. Bagheera brings him to the wolf pack to be raised as one of their own. Mowgli’s life is fine and dandy until the vicious Bengal tiger Shere Khan takes a particular interest in Mowgli, threatening to kill the boy if he doesn't leave. To protect his family, Mowgli agrees to depart for the nearby human village to be with his own kind. The trip is cut short when he and Bagheera are attacked by Shere Khan. Mowgli is thrown off course and into a number of adventures including a wild stampede, a larger-than-life orangutan and, of course, a lovable bear who just wants his honey fix.

Let’s start with the positives: The Jungle Book is a massive technical achievement. Favreau’s direction is on-point throughout, deftly balancing effects-driven action with beautiful scenery and heartfelt emotion. The world is, for the most part, successfully immersive and believable, as are the CG animals that inhabit it. The special effects team has raised the bar for computer-generated worlds in a fashion similar to James Cameron’s work on Avatar back in 2009. Sure, little Mowgli looks a little out of place at times as the only legitimate flesh-and-blood entity on screen, but more often than not, I was able to buy into the jungle as a living, breathing place. I'm kicking myself for not seeing The Jungle Book in 3D. I have a feeling it would have been the optimal viewing experience, not least of which because 3D tends to blur the lines between CGI and reality.

The cast is another high point. I mean, come on, you’ve got Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Christopher Walken and BILL flippin’ MURRAY as Baloo? Genius. But a good chunk of credit for the film’s success should go to newcomer Neel Sethi, who gives a spirited performance as Mowgli. Considering that every single character he interacts with wasn’t actually there, it’s all the more impressive.

That’s a whole lot of praise, right? So, why didn’t I like The Jungle Book more than I actually do?

It all boils down to this: I can’t get past this being a near beat-for-beat remake of a movie that already exists. At least with Cinderella there was an effort to cushion the all-too-familiar story elements with new information and insights about the characters. Aside from the impressive visuals, there’s isn't much in The Jungle Book you haven’t seen before. Even the visuals lose their novelty with the artificiality of the settings standing out at times. I mean, I’ve used the term ‘live-action’ to describe The Jungle Book, but the truth is with all the CG elements and environments, it’s practically another animated version of the story.

The whole enterprise just can’t help but feel like a cash-grab even despite the impressive talent and earnest efforts of everyone involved. Maybe I’m just being pompous and cynical, but….well….yeah, I’m being pompous and cynical. Deal with it.

But, look, a good story is a good story no matter how many times it’s told and The Jungle Book is certainly that. It’s exciting, heartfelt and very funny. And let's face it, kids won't care that this is basically the same movie they've seen before and it's entertaining enough that parents won't mind sitting through it again. See it in 3D to get the best immersive experience and just try to ignore the nagging voice in your head telling you you’ve seen it all before. Embrace The Jungle Book as the impressive visual achievement that it is and you're sure to have a good time.

FINAL RATING: 3.5/5