Yet Another Tarzan Spoof
Summer's over and we've only just got a live action kid's movie that's fun for children 5-to-6 and up, as well as their parents. Base on the late 1960s TV cartoon, this updated George of the jungle blents the campiness of old Tarzan movies with the multilayered wit of Bullwinkle.Despite the rating, theres a bit of sexual innuendo when George(Brendan Fraser) notices that Ursula (Leslie Mann),the heirness on safari whom he rescues from a lion is a woman. Mildly crude language turns up occassionally-Ursula's snooty mother threatens to 'remove (George's) reason for wearing a loincloth,' which he refers to as 'butt flap'.As for the high jinks, a bad guy lands face down in elephant poop fighting involves crocth kicks and wedgies,and George's mentor a talking gorilla (voice of John Cleese), uses flatulence to foil poachers. A scary snake appears briefly.
The jungle and three house that George in habits look like part of a fanciful adventure park, which should intrique kids. His pet elephant,Shep (who acts like a dog), his monkey and other jungle creatures are charmers, live or enhanced by computers and puppetry. Some of the jokes go clunk, but far more of them work, thanks to a clever cast and a droll narrator (Keith Scott) who occassionaly stops to arque with them. The story of a rich girl falling for a jungle guy sneaks in a few lines against snobbism and self-consciousnees. Richard Roundtree as Ursula's African guide adds ma nice touch, keeping all steriotypes at bay.
PS.FOR KIDS:You should try to see Rocky and Bullwinkle as well as the old George of the jungle on the cable,cartoon channel.Jay Ward created both shows and really knew how to makes kids and their parents laugh together.You might also rent Tarzan, the Ape Man from 1932, to see how George borrows ideas from that movies and makes fun of it at the same time. The original Tarzan story was by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
SHALL WE DANCE?
It'll take athoughtful teen to delight in this gentle, touching tale of one man's rebellion against the strict conformity of middle-class life in japan. Language and behavior in Shall we dance? are perfectly proper, with mild sexual tensions merely hinted at between the sub titles. Mr. Sugiyama, a bored,sad,Japanese businessman, impulsively joins a ballroom dance class. At first, it's just to be near a pretty teacher, but soon he's addicted to his new step together-step-hobby,which brightens his whole life. Kids will have to exercise all thier impathetic abilities to be move by a shy fella learning to tango.
FLAMENCO
This dreamy concert film celebrate dancers, singers and musicians keeping the Flamenco traditions a live in modern Spain but will bored and confused most preteens. Even teens, unless the are serious dance buffs,curious about the music of other cultures or students of Spanish, will find the art from obscure. Gathering a huge group of artist in a hall, director,Carlos Saura adds a little dramatic lighting and a graceful camera and conjures a concert that will thrill those willing to let it.The prologue (in subtitles) traces the origin of Flamenco.All the songs remain and untranslated except for their titles.
NOTHING TO LOSE
Yet another tweedledum-and-tweedledee buddy picture that fuels itself on shovelfuls of steaming profanity, Nothing to lose turns out to be a pretty entertaining addition to the genre.Still, many parents will deem it inappropriate for teens under 15 or so, which means that boys under that age may try especially hard to see it. The rating reflects the cursing, one graphic bedroom scene with seminudity,suggestive dancing in a strip club and strong verbal sexual innuendo.The violence involves fists, guns and cars chases, most of it intense but noninjurious and played for laughs. One crude joke involves a primitive phallic scruptures.
Martin Lawrence plays a down-on-his-lack computer whiz who tries to hijack an advertising execs fancy car.The exec (Tim Robbins) does'nt care he lives or dies because he thinks his wife has betrayed him. So he kidnaps the carjacker.Careening toward Arizona, They are pursued by the police and a couple bad guys.Then they bond.Write-director Steve Oedekerk concludes his formulaic flick on a fairly convincing message of one-on-one affirmative action.Some people may find that smug and condescending.Thoughtful high schoolers could have something to talk about, post-popcorn.