2016 Summer of Movies: Tigers and Panthers and Bears are COOL

Jungle Book 4.5/5

If you were gonna tell me a few months ago that a movie that features a child actor for most of the movie would be good and I would be happy with it, then I would slap you.

But hey, this kid (Neel Sethi) kills it. I didn’t cringe. This is the complete opposite end of the spectrum of child acting than you’re used to. This isn’t The Phantom Menace.

The movie kills it. The voice talent kills it. The direction kills it. The cinematography kills it.

Idris Elba as Shere Kahn is great (note: I like to think of him as the Shao Kahn of this movie because he is and I like Mortal Kombat) and is the voice star of the film. Christopher Walken tones back his Christopher Walken-ness as King Louie. Bill Murray is charmingly lazy as Baloo.

It’s visually impressive. There is so much detail I couldn’t tell at times that I’m looking at a CG wolf or bear or forest.

The action is cool. Tigers and bears and monkeys and panthers and wolves all doing their thing, but I don’t think it ever gets legitimately violent any point. This is still a Disney movie for all ages.

Its also refreshing and familiar in the way that there are a lot of visuals from the comics, a couple musical numbers and the general story is the same as the animated film, but it swerves a little bit in a few places so that it is still new.

There were girls crying in the theater at some point so I guess their feels got punched a little bit too.

There are a pair of scenes that don’t quite hit their mark but that is me being nit-picky. I’m not convinced that 3D adds anything spectacular to the viewing experience either, but it sure doesn’t hurt.

Kids will love it. Adults who want to have childish fun will love it. Hippies who want all the existential blah blah social commentary blah blah whatever will love it.

What did you think?

Previously:

• Lazer Team
• Blue Mountain State: Rise of Thadland
• Deadpool
• Gods of Egypt
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
• Hardcore Henry

To Come:

• Keanu (April 29)
• Captain America: Civil War (May 6)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows (June 3)
• Popstar: Never Stop Singing (June 3)
• Warcraft (June 10)
• Independence Day: Resurgence (June 24)
• The Secret Life of Pets (July 8)
• Star Trek Beyond (July 15)
• Jason Bourne (July 29)
• Suicide Squad (August 5)
• Sausage Party (August 12)

Maybe’s of the Summer

• Money Master (May 13)
• Neighbours 2 (May 20)
• The Nice Guys (May 20)
• Now You See Me 2 (June 10)
• The Legend of Tarzan (July 1)
• Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (July 8)
• Ghostbusters (July 15)