The Legend of Tarzan

Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Djimon Hounsou, Christoph Waltz
Directed by: David Yates
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
2016

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard) has moved on from his life in the jungle but is called back to it when a new threat for the continent emerges.

Review:

Tim: This is an actual statement I made, nearly verbatim earlier this year- "Why the hell are they making a new Tarzan movie? It's 2016, no one wants to watch a movie about Tarzan. We've seen it all before. The movie looks terrible and never should have been made." And, of course, wonders never cease in Hollywood, The Legend of Tarzan was surprisingly fun, effective, and one of the more entertaining movies I saw. It certainly has its flaws, but it overcame so many obstacles in its path (including that "The Legend of" rarely returns good results- The Legend of Hercules, The Legend of Zorro, etc). I was so surprised that this movie engaged me and entertained me.

I love that this movie picked up well after the "origin story" of Tarzan. We've all come to know the story, either from books, movies, or cultural osmosis. It was refreshing not to have to retread that well-worn path. That was honestly a brilliant move that immediately put this film on better footing. The story was exciting, offering some entertaining, thrilling action sequences. I was draw into the story and the characters and found myself having a very fun time watching this film. I clearly did not expect that.

The Legend of Tarzan is a great reminder that a talented director (like David Yates) who knows what he is doing can create a compelling story in so many different ways. Did we need a Tarzan movie in 2016? Probably not. And yet, the story, when told effectively and in an exciting fashion, audiences will show up. This film did very well at the box office, as well. While critics didn't universally love it, I was definitely a fan.

The cast was great. Alexander Skarsgard makes an impressive Tarzan. I'm not entirely bought into his acting ability outside of this film, but he worked exceptionally well in the lead role. He looked the part and did enough to help us buy into the characters. Margot Robbie was wonderfully cast as Jane. It was a little too "damsel in distress" for me. While they did give her something to do and showed her resourceful, strong side, she still ultimately just turns to her man to save her. Still, Robbie did well with what she had. Samuel L. Jackson was great, providing some humorous comedic relief. Jackson is so good in these smaller supporting roles and he was able to greatly contribute to the overall film. Christoph Waltz has become a little overplayed as "the villain", but I enjoyed his performance here. His forced dinner with Robbie was one of the more awkward yet chilling scenes I've witnessed recently. He worked well. I always like seeing Djimon Hounsou- I'd watch that dude in anything, so his presence here was welcome. As a whole, I have to applaud the casting here.

The special effects were good- the gorillas and the other animals seemed believable. It all helped to draw me into this world and engage in the story. The action moved along at a brisk pace and the cinematography was often outstanding. At multiple places throughout this movie, I recall pausing in my own mind and saying, "I can't believe how much fun I'm having with this movie." I was genuinely entertained.

Part of the reason I love movies so much is that you never know. The film that looked incredible ends up sucking. The film you thought was terrible shocked you (in a good way). I love when movies like The Legend of Tarzan sneak up on you. I'd have bet money that this was a bad movie, and instead, it turns into an incredibly entertaining, refreshingly different film. David Yates did a good job managing the Harry Potter franchise, and this thoroughly entertaining film proves he has real talent. After the surprisingly good The Legend of Tarzan, I can't wait to see what Yates does next. And, is there any chance we get a sequel here?

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Harry Potter franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them