Tarzan (1999)

Directed by Chris Buck & Kevin Lima
Written by Tab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker, & Noni White, based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Starring Tony Goldwyn, Lance Henriksen, Glenn Close, Minnie Driver, Rosie O'Donnell

My Advice: Wait and Rent It.

Based on the classic series of stories by Burroughs, a young orphaned infant is found by a female gorilla and raised as her own child.  Only when humans come to paradise does the now adult Tarzan (voiced by Goldwyn) begin to question his heritage and his family.

This is an above average Disney outing here in the wasteland that is their post-Lion King era.  With each passing release, I become more and more certain that they simply blew their wad on that classic.  Now don't get me wrong--this is a film that anyone under twelve will positively adore.  But the problem with Disney these days is that they've forgotten how to please the adults as well as the children.  Case in point are the Unnecessary Comedic Characters (TM): Tantor (Wayne Knight) and Terk (the intolerably annoying O'Donnell) who constantly remind you: "Oh, wait--that's right, this is Disney."   Another problem Disney has is the use of unnecessary songs in their films.  This is exacerbated in this instance by the unnecessary Phil Collins with his equally unnecessary and quite tired lyrics.  Also in this film, even one who is not terribly familiar with the primary source material (like myself) can guess where it's going within the first ten minutes.

What saved this film from total Disney mediocrity?  Well, it wasn't the vocal casting, done with typical Disney style--by which I mean that if you didn't know ahead of time who was voicing whom, you probably couldn't guess.  Even Brian Blessed, a welcome voice in that...whatever that sci-fi movie was this summer, plays the bombastic Clayton exactly like the archetypal slippery greasy eel he is cookie-cuttered to be.  Nope, no surprises here.  No, the true standouts of the film are the animators themselves, especially Glen Keane.  Keane's Tarzan is liquid movement.  He's hardly ever still; his entire body works at whatever the task might be, from simple examining object to fighting off the jungle cat Sabor.  The action sequences are especially breathtaking and edge of your seat.  So kudos to them. 

But fie upon the rest of you at Disney Animation.  I want my great Disney movies back, like we had before.  Thank God I own most of them on video.  As for this one, if you are a kid or have kids, don't miss it--otherwise, wait for it to come out on video too.