A computer generated live action retelling of Rudyard
Kipling’s timeless story, The Jungle Book
follows Mowgli, a mancub stranded in the tropical wilds and rescued by a
panther who delivers him to be raised by a pack of wolves. When a Bengal tiger
puts a bounty on his end, the young pup must make his way to the man village
while encountering a carefree bear along the way. John Favreau’s walks a line
between magical and cumbersome with a largely enjoyable child age geared story
that at times becomes strikingly intense. The voicework ranges from excellent
(Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba) to miscast with Bill Murray and Christopher Walken’s
personalities overmatching their computer counterparts. The music from the 1967
original is oddly misused and makes you wonder why it was employed at all.
*** out of ****
