Run time: 105 mins       Certificate: PG
Director: Jon Favreau
Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley.
Release Date: April 15, 2016.

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A Bear Necessity.

To describe how refreshing Jon Favreau’s adaptation of The Jungle Book is would be almost impossible, in an age of countless needless remakes it could have been set to go down the same path, but instead he’s delivered a delight of a film that pays as much a homage to the Disney original as it does the Kipling source material. Placing itself deftly between the musicality of the cartoon and the more fable like qualities of the book it manages to create wonderfully balanced world all of its own, one with equal charm and drama that will appeal to any age. Simply put this is Disney back on classical form.

The beautifully crafted world and animals will strike you immediately, with an eye on realism at all the times the CGI is undoubtedly some of the best to have ever been put on screen. As with all effects laden films though, there can be some disparity in the quality. Seeing Mowgli ride down the river on Baloo’s stomach is brilliantly realised, whereas another moment that sees Mowgli being taken through the trees by an assortment of monkeys looks more than a little odd. Likewise it takes a moment to adjust to seeing such believable animals talk so casually, some characters mouth movements never quite looking credible, yet admittedly there came a point in the film when I forgot even noticing it. It all takes a little getting used to then, but once you’re invested in the world there’s no denying the beauty with which it has been crafted.

Favreau shows a clear attention to detail throughout, building the mythos behind this animal kingdom subtly without ever endangering the plot or characters. Ben Kingsley’s Bagheera works as a pseudo narrator, establishing aspects of the world such as the much respected elephants (far from marching this time round) to add a level of depth to the proceedings. Children won’t be lost with any heavy messages, but its does take it beyond the simplistic man versus nature motifs it could have easily relied solely upon.

There is time for levity as well however, not only from Baloo either, with two songs from the original animation returning to great effect. John Debney’s soundtrack is well done, weaving the same classic tunes into its rousing orchestral themes to evoke a nostalgia in any Disney fan. All of this is then framed expertly by Bill Pope’s cinematography, using panning shots and close ups in equal measure to emphasize the breadth of scale in this fantastical world. One instance where the camera follows an enormous King Louie clambering around the sides of a courtyard as Baloo and Bagheera struggle below was a jaw dropping shot that sold the scene with a stunning intensity that’s rare in such effects heavy features.

What binds the dramatic tones with the whimsical fantasy of it all is without a doubt the spot on voice acting. Few of the famous characters are replicated from Disney’s previous iteration, rather they’re developed further or reinvented entirely. Bill Murray’s con artist Baloo lights up the film from the moment he appears, providing some much needed comic relief to the relatively sombre opening. His comic delivery is as spot on as ever, and he gives some genuine heart to the character. Likewise Kingsley’s regal tones imbue Bagheera with his trademark wisdom, whose chemistry with both Mowgli and Baloo arguably provides an anchor to the majority of the films more poignant scenes. Idris Elba revels in the villainy of Shere Khan, and in taking the big bad to some truly dark places gives the protagonists and audiences alike something to genuinely fear. Christopher Walken’s King Louie (an enormous gigantopithecus this time around) steals his scenes with his mafioso like turn as the character, his rendition of Swingdance managing to be both joyous and terrifying at the same time. Perhaps the only disappointment here is Scarlett Johanson’s Kaa who, despite being animated exquisitely in her mesmerising scene, turns in a performance absent of any of the hypnotic qualities of the character she’s portraying.

Considering this is Neel Sethi’s breakout role as Mowgli, and that he’s the only character physically on set, he performs admirably. Portraying the cock sure attitude of Mowgli whilst interacting with co-stars made up entirely of CGI animals inevitably leads to some stiffness and moments of over acting, but the enthusiasm with which he approaches every aspect of the role keeps the character from ever feeling detached from the world he’s inhabiting, which is no mean feat.

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Verdict

Once the whimsical credits begin to roll to the timeless Disney songs there’s little doubt left that The Jungle Book was a remake that fully deserved to be made. Favreau’s cognizant approach marries the best of both worlds, weaving the depth of the book into the playfulness of the Disney original to form an iteration that’s entirely its own. Astounding computer effects, a believable lead and an esteemed voice cast all ensure this classic tale finds its place in modern cinema.

Hits

+ Balances dramatic beats with humour perfectly
+ Surprising depth and emotion
+ Cast impress across the board
+ Musical beats implemented into the soundtrack
+ Jaw dropping visual effects bring the world to life…

Misses

– …but some disparities still hamper the CGI.

Overall Rating