The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

Review

110min

Genre:     Action, Adventure

Director:  David Yates

Cast:       Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Christoph Waltz…more

Writers:   Adam Cozadl , Craig Brewer and Edgar Rice Burroughs

-Synopsis-

After years of living as “Lord Greystoke” in late 19th century England; “Tarzan” is manipulated into returning to his wild jungle roots only to find himself at the centre of a brutal colonial conspiracy which threatens not only his beloved “Jane”, but the peoples and animals of the Belgian Congo in this modern summer blockbuster adaptation of the iconic piece of early 20th century  literature.

Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård stars as “Tarzan” and certainly fits the part of “King of the Jungle” for the “Millennial” generation; statuesquely tall and physically ripped, brooding and already boasting a legion of adoring fans from a popular TV show. The irresistible Margot Robbie is equally easy on the eye in a solid if unspectacular turn as “Jane”, while Samuel L. Jackson features as the American confidant who provides the only comic relief in a decidedly gloomy affair.

‘The Legend of Tarzan’ is visually what you might expect from a big-budget modern adaptation of the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs novel; packed with high-octane action sequences, set against stunning digitally enhanced backdrops and jungles populated by CGI beasts, and featuring a physical specimen of a titular character swingin’ & punchin’ his way through the movie. All of course revolving around the central “Tarzan & Jane” love story.

Having proven his blockbuster chops to the folks at Warner Bros. with several of the ‘Harry Potter’ sequels, British director David Yates seems the natural choice to lavishly launch this 100 year-old literary icon into the 21st century.

Indeed if the tone, look and score of the film seem a bit familiar, it seems that Yates et Al have been heavily inspired by the “Dark Knight Trilogy” to inject some gravitas and drama into what has become an overdone and outdated narrative; with, it has to be said, mixed success as much of the fun and camp flair is absent from this adaptation.

The story jumps back and forth between Tarzan as the “civilised” and married John Clayton who reluctantly returns to his savage nature, and flashbacks to his wild upbringing among the apes and animals of the deep dark jungle; and like most adaptations of the Burroughs story, ‘The Legend of Tarzan’ strays heavily from the original story but sticks to the basic skeletal structure.

Unsurprisingly the studio has updated the narrative by politicizing it and infusing some measure of political correctness, as well as changing the setting to a historically significant late 19th century “Belgian Congo” under the oppressive auspices of King Leopold II, and frankly this is where the film is at its most interesting.

The writers have fully leveraged European colonial guilt over the brutality of African colonialism and the white man’s quest for dominion over nature, resulting in familiar and one-dimensional but nevertheless effective villains of the piece, led by Christoph Waltz who tries his sinister best as the principal antagonist “Leon Rom”.

But beyond that there’s not much more to shout about; the story builds steadily but soon becomes action-packed as it crosses continents, and although it’s an entertaining visual feast up to a point, the growing scale and endless CGI soon becomes all too familiar and tiresome.

Even the reasonably impressive effects are not fully immersive, you’re always aware of them, which is never good, and they pale in comparison to the achievements of recent blockbusters like 2014’s ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ and Disney’s own classic literature adaptation ‘The Jungle Book’.

Ultimately this was a solid attempt at modernizing a story which holds limited appeal beyond the name; a visually epic and reasonably entertaining action adventure with a few fresh elements that work but many which don’t, and an all too predictable and disappointingly saccharine conclusion… which no doubt promises a franchise to come.

The Bottom Line…

Featuring a solid lead performance from a physical specimen and decent supporting roles; ‘The Legend of Tarzan’ offers some interesting new historical and political elements to an exhausted  100 year-old narrative while providing an entertaining visual spectacle, but will ultimately join the ranks of interchangeable CGI action blockbusters you’ll soon forget… until the next instalment that is.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)

Christopher Lambert stars in this big-screen adaptation of the  Edgar Rice Burroughs novel; following the fortunes of a 19th century man raised as an animal in the depths of the African jungle, who is returned to his aristocratic British roots where he will struggle to adapt.

Directed by Hugh Hudson and starring Christopher Lambert, Andie MacDowell and Ian Holm among others.

Comments

comments

Comments are closed.