Chimpanzee - Review

Chimpanzee

Release Date: April 20, 2012
Studio: Disneynature
Director: 
Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield
Screenwriter: unknown

Starring: unknown
Genre: True Life Adventure
Rated: G
Website: Disney.com/Chimpanzee
Rating: B
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available
Production Stills: View here
 

Disneynature takes moviegoers deep into the forests of Africa with "Chimpanzee," a new True Life Adventure introducing an adorable baby chimp named Oscar and his entertaining approach to life in a remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph. Oscar's playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. Working together, Oscar's chimpanzee family--including his mom and the group's savvy leader--navigates the complex territory of the forest.

 
The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps, who'd rather make mayhem than join their parents for an afternoon nap. But when Oscar's family is confronted by a rival band of chimps, he is left to fend for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever. 

The PROS:
It was refreshing to see a Nature Film that didn't bow down at the alter of the environmentalist and PETA fascists. I was prepared for a damnation of mankind, but that wasn't the case. I can't stand it when you feel you are paying to be lectured by some elitist 'Holier than Thou'.  But there were no humans capturing and killing chimps and no footage of the rain forest being chopped down. Thankfully that is not what this story is all about. It's a snapshot of chimpanzee life in the wild (or is is it just life when they've grown accustomed to human observers).  You have much more interest in protecting Chimps when not being beaten over the head with the environmental message. It's so much easier to become emotionally invested in the animals themselves. They work their way into your heart as the use sticks like straws to get termites or ants out of mounds and  use rocks as nutcrackers. Their use of primitive tools that is remarkable, and young Oscar is enchanting as he learns the skill himself. The chimps ingenuity continues as they weave beds out of limbs high in the trees and settle in for the night. You really begin to get an appreciation for how intelligent these animals are.

"Chimpanzee" also shows the dark side of these animals. You see two troops of chimps viciously battling over territory. You see the chimps conduct a coordinated attack to hunt and kill a monkey for food. It's actually a bit shocking to see them tear apart the monkey and eat it. Not the cute and cuddly Chimps we see in other parts of the movie. As the film unfolds, you sense that you are getting a real picture of life in the animal kingdom, not just a sanitized Disney version.
The cinematography is breathtaking. As the movie rolls along, you find yourself wondering how the filmmakers got all of these amazing and intimate shots. They manage to get extreme close-up shots of their hands, feet, faces and their hair as they groom each other looking for ticks. There is amazing footage of the baby chimp's human like child's play. You sense of the personalities of the animals and wonder just how much footage it took to pull this off and just how much of it was staged. I really liked the  'making of' featurette during the credits, it gives you an appreciation of what the creators went through to get the footage, it's then you come to realize there wasn't as much staged as you might have thought.

I wondered if I was the only one asking the questions, "Does Oscar ended up leading the family? Does he even survive?" That made me realize that the film was effective in getting you to care about what happened to the chimps outside of the film. That is probably the most significant accomplishment of "Chimpanzee". 

UPDATE:

'Chimpanzee' star Oscar: Missing in action
USA TODAY‎ - 2 days ago

According to the director of the film, Mark Linfield, Oscar has not been seen since the the filmmakers left the Tai Forest of Africa's Ivory Coast in September 2011.

The CONS:
The Tim Allen narration. I'm not sure if it was his delivery or if it was the writing but I found it grating and distracting.
The G rating. Why? Because it quite intense in some parts. The film really plays up the fear of Oscar being in danger and the menace of the rival chimpanzees. The major event in Oscar's life...I don't want to spoil things here but most Disney movies, and "Chimpanzee" does nothing to end that trend, mothers don't fare all that well. I remember seeing Bambi  when I was a wee one, it was traumatic. My advice would be that if you have a kid 5 or under and they are the sensitive type... well, you may just want to pass on this one.
The LAST WORD:
All in all, "Chimpanzee" was an entertaining film. You and the kids may learn something along the way, so that makes it a winner overall.

Directed by:

Alastair Fothergill ("African Cats" and "Earth") and 

Mark Linfield ("Earth"), "Chimpanzee" swings into theaters on Earth Day 2012.