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If Rudyard Kipling was alive today and got a chance to see 2016's warmly felt,
state-of-the-art "The Jungle Book," he would not believe his eyes. Kipling's
timeless 1894 story collection was inspired by his early childhood spent living
in India and allegedly written for daughter Josephine, who passed away at age 6
in 1899. A grand adventure featuring anthropomorphic animals and a lot of heart,
the book was a personal work for the author—one which director Jon Favreau
(2008's "Iron
Man", 2010's “Iron
Man 2”) and screenwriter Justin Marks (a long way from 2009's "Street
Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li") have lovingly conceived for the screen. At once
a remake of Disney's 1967 animated musical and a straight adaptation of
Kipling's opening story in the anthology, called "Mowgli's Brothers," "The
Jungle Book" is a visionary showstopper that nonetheless never misplaces the
tale's characters and emotions. That the film was shot exclusively at L.A.
Center Studios in downtown Los Angeles is beyond comprehension; never for so
much as a second does this look like it was shot anywhere but on location in the
Indian jungle.
Abandoned in the wilderness as a toddler, young human Mowgli (Neel Sethi in his
film debut) is saved from certain death by black panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley
1982's “Gandhi”, 2013's
“Iron Man 3”) and
subsequently raised as one of wolf couple Akela (voice of Giancarlo Esposito)
and Raksha's (Lupita Nyong'o, 2013's “12 Years a Slave”) own. Trained to run
with the pack, Mowgli is happy with his place among the animals of the jungle
until his life is suddenly put into jeopardy. As he has continued to grow,
unforgiving tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba, the Thor films, 2012's “Prometheus”,
2016's "Zootopia") sees this man-cub as
a direct threat to his domain. The boy is begrudgingly sent off with Bagheera en
route to a nearby village where the hope is he can be safe to grow up with his
own kind, but Shere Khan makes it clear he will not rest until Mowgli is dead.
Employing what must be some of the most photo-realistic computer-generated
visual effects ever put to film, "The Jungle Book" creates a fantastic world
alive with all the wonder and possibility one's imagination is capable. The
sheer magnitude of its technological accomplishments is staggering, sending
Mowgli across a landscape as immersive as it is remarkable. How an exotic place
of such depth and outward scope could have been made without its makers leaving
a studio is unimaginable in and of itself, but the wizardry which brings to life
its CG animals is equally as impressive. Their fur, their expressive faces and
eyes, their talking mouths, their body movements, there is not a solitary seam
which gives away that these creatures are anything other than really there
interacting with newcomer Neel Sethi, a natural, winning find as Mowgli.
As a narrative, "The Jungle Book" is episodic in structure (think "Alice in
Wonderland"), following Mowgli from one location and sticky situation to the
next as he runs into a series of
colorful characters. There's Kaa (Scarlett Johansson, The Avengers films, 2014's
"Her" and "Under The
Skin"), a seductive python who shows Mowgli his past while seeking to hypnotize
him for her own nefarious plans. There's ruler of the monkeys King Louie
(Christopher Walken, more films then can be listed), an opportunistic
Gigantopithecus who seeks answers from Mowgli about the coveted "red flower"
(really a flame) forever seen emanating from the man-village. Most prominently,
there' s Baloo (Bill Murray, 2014's "The Grand Budapest Hotel" among many more),
a jovial sloth bear who befriends Mowgli after coming to his urgent aid among
the fog-shrouded treetops. A little more time attributed to their burgeoning
bond would have only helped a later scene where Baloo makes a tough decision in
order to save Mowgli's life, but as the two of them float down the river and
belt out "The Bare Necessities," the picture magically soars. Playful
inspiration from the 1967 animated classic later reappears in time for King
Louie to sing "I Wan'na Be Like You," as performed by Christopher Walken must be
seen to be believed. A third song intended for Kaa, "Trust in Me (The Python
Song)," is sadly left out of the movie and relegated to the end
credits—especially disappointing since this version sung by Scarlett Johansson
is silky and alluring.
Veering away from the pitch-perfect conclusion of the animated feature, "The
Jungle Book" ends somewhat disingenuously, seemingly contradicting Mowgli's arc
as a boy who longs to stay with his pals in the jungle but, realistically,
doesn't belong there. What comes before this final off note, however, is a
rousing adventure unafraid of embracing its tenser moments while wearing its
empathetic heart on its sleeve. Kids will love it even when they are a little
scared, while adults will be won over by its vibrant characters and humane
sincerity. Acting against virtually nothing must be difficult for any actor, but
Neel Sethi, as Mowgli, makes it look effortless; he is a phenomenal discovery,
evidently incapable of artifice. As the malicious Shere Khan, Idris Elba brings
a cool, calm, devious power to his vocalizations, while Lupita
Nyong'o is perfection in her emotionally captivating turn as mother wolf Raksha.
On the technical side, John Debney has composed a music score of toe-tapping,
drum-beating potency, and cinematographer Bill Pope (2010's "Scott Pilgrim vs.
the World") has crafted images of swirling, eloquent cohesion. In 2015, Disney
reimagined a live-action "Cinderella" as splendid as its animated counterpart.
With 2016's "The Jungle Book," director Jon Favreau has crafted an equally
enchanting achievement. It's his best film. This isn’t any cynical cash grab for
fans of the original animated film. This jungle feels like a real place, because
it is populated with living, breathing characters that are full of life,
individuality, and beauty. Even with all the new-fangled, cutting edge
technology, this feels like a movie they don’t really make anymore. There is
real magic in it, real optimism, and real joy. Other blockbusters may have the
visuals, but they do not have the emotion that The Jungle Book has, and it is
that power that makes films classics. Those are the films that endure in the
hearts of audiences everywhere, and The Jungle Book is no exception. Find the
biggest screen you can and spring for the 3D. |
