Date: Fri 02-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SARAH

Quick Words:

Playing-Tarzan-Disney

Full Text:

NOW PLAYING: New "Tarzan" For Tots, Teens And Grown-Ups

By Trey Paul Alexander III

If Johnny Weimuller, often considered by many as the definitive Tarzan among

the numerous actors who have donned the loincloth of Edgar Rice Burrough's

1912 pulp hero, parlayed his success as an Olympic swimming star to celluloid

fame as Burrough's famous vine swinger, then maybe Disney' latest adaptation

has a hero who was previously known as an X-Games daredevil. Confused? You

won't be when you see the dynamic bough surfing escapades of this kinetic

animated wonder who gives new meaning to the sports term "extreme."

Tarzan's very contemporary mode of boarding the twisting, green expanse of the

jungle notwithstanding, Disney's hard-working animators have assembled in

Tarzan a captivating, lively take on what many others before them have adapted

(over 50 times, no less), and give us a fresh look at a familiar tale that is

as full of thoughtful, heart-rending substance as it is packed with flashy

visuals and colorful style.

Directors Kevin Lima and Chris Buck make their mark immediately with a

mesmerizing opening sequence that manages to give us the backstory of nearly

all the tales' characters without the use of dialogue. We are introduced to a

very noble looking English family who is forced to flee from a flaming sea

vessel to safety on the African shore. Their journey is paralleled by that of

Kala (Glenn Close) and her mate, Kerchak (Lance Henriksen), who lead a group

of gorillas through the wild. It's a canny display of visual storytelling

showmanship that uses no dialogue, only visuals and Phil Collins' songs (in

this case, "Two Worlds," but throughout the film, his tunes prove impressively

effective), which comment on the action but are not voiced by any of the

characters. By the end of this ten-minute sequence, we've witnessed the deadly

danger of the jungle, experienced a thrilling action sequence, and come to

understand exactly how Tarzan came to be with the apes.

Just as Tarzan strives to become light on his feet to keep up with his simian

brothers, Tarzan is just as adept in its narrative touch, keeping the story

simple at its core. Tarzan, obviously different in appearance from the apes,

attempts to prove himself worthy of his adopted family and especially its

dominant leader, Kerchak. But in his attempts for approval, Tarzan rarely asks

the question of why he is different; he just knows he is different. So, when

the jungle is visited by a scholarly, inquisitive Englishwoman, Jane (Minnie

Driver), accompanied by her somewhat addlebrained professor father (Nigel

Hawthorne) and their gun-toting "protector," Clayton (Brian Blessed), his

curiosity is more than piqued to find that there are others of his "kind."

Tarzan features several of the usual characteristics of a Disney animated

feature. The hero boasts two sidekicks, one his ape pal Terk (Rosie O'Donnell)

and his elephant buddy Tanto (Wayne Knight). He also falls in love with the

spirited and plucky female lead, Jane; but the film excels in the extent of

its parallel ability to engage tots, teens and grown-ups. The young ones will

enjoy its constant motion, vibrant visuals and Tarzan's interplay with his

animal kingdom comrades; teens will appreciate the elaborately choreographed

action sequences, the buff hero and his charm, and a lack of pandering to

them; adults will appreciate the writers' realistic, attentive approach and

consideration of what it might be like if a human was raised by apes.

Rated G, but featuring several dramatic, yet tasteful, scenes of death and

danger, Tarzan is a joy to recommend to viewers of all ages. It's an

unpretentious tale that lends itself to readings about adoption, racism,

acceptance, ecological awareness and gun control, but never stoops to

simplistic sermonizing or pedantic moralism.