Janet LeighWhen Disney put their stamp on a movie they pretty much mark a territory that others fail to rival. Not impossible though. Robert Stromberg’s Maleficent is a fantastic example of that…oh no wait, that was another Disney production too, hmm, but there is always Hook, spawn of the Peter Pan film. That was pretty awesome. The point is, for any remake to outshine a Disney rendition it has to be one of two things, so different it’s incomparable or exceptionally better. Reinhard Klooss’ Tarzan is neither.
While the latest retelling of the classic took a stab at being unique, what with the dinosaurs and the meteoroids and a global awareness aspect chucked in for good measure, the overall effect failed to enthral. Tarzan’s reinvented quest has him chasing after gun wielding cooperate big wigs, who threaten jungle life as they search for an untapped energy source.
Unfortunately, all its ‘uniqueness’ added nothing to the core story and leaves you hankering for the original tale.
The classic love story between Tarzan and Jane – voiced by Twilight’s Kellan Lutz and Spencer Locke – feels awkward and incredibly corny, presumably ruining Coldplay’s Paradise for many, as the song is used in one scene to try and capture their romance where they fail to. The lack of chemistry between the two characters makes every moment that is intended to be endearing feel forced. On top of that Jane’s ‘come-hither’ looks were somewhere between laughable and nauseating.
The film also lacks the wow factor when it comes to animation. In an era when movie goers are surround by the realistic likes of How to Train Your Dragon, Cars, Toy Story etc. watching something as clunky as Stromberg’s Tarzan creates somewhat of a disconnect between the audience and the film. We are unable to become fully immersed because of lacklustre visuals.
Lutz and Locke were unremarkable as the main characters and the cast overall lacked the emotional depth needed to drive the film.
All in all, the movie is a let down. Stilted to watch and void of emotion. On top of that the plot is somewhat overcomplicated for a PG audience. Klooss attempts to pack too much into the 94 minute time slot and fails to impress.
