Film Review: ‘Monkey Kingdom’ is a Disappointing Destination

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionE-mail page to friendE-mail page to friendPDF versionPDF version
Average: 5 (1 vote)

CHICAGO – Disney has always imported a bit of its cutesy narratives into its nature films. The best ones seem to spring organically from the images on screen and it becomes easy to forget the contrivances and get swept up in the story.  n the lesser entries, these attempts to impose a Hollywood story structure on the lives of wild animals only highlight how artificial they all are.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 2.5/5.0
Rating: 2.5/5.0

Disney’s latest entry “Monkey Kingdom” tries desperately to impose not just one story arc, but multiple story arcs onto the lives of a troupe of monkeys living in the ruin of an indonesian temple. The film focuses on Maya, a young female monkey at the bottom of the pecking order. She’s a plucky young heroine risking everything for her young child. And then it follows her as she tries to survive in the jungle and try to climb the social ladder of their particular monkey tribe.

The usually-reliable Tina Fey carries the weight of the narrative load and struggles a bit here with her duties. There’s a disconnect between the yarn she’s spinning and the meandering footage on screen. Her off-hand asides fall flat, and the attempts at humor smack a little of flop sweat.

“Monkey Kingdom” opens everywhere on April 17th. Featuring narration by Tina Fey. Directed by Mark Linfield and Alastair Fothergill. Rated “G”

StarContinue reading for Spike Walters’ full review of “Monkey Kingdom”

Ryan Reynolds, Helen Mirren
Maya and Child in ‘Monkey Kingdom’
Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios

StarContinue reading for Spike Walters’ full review of “Monkey Kingdom”

User Login

Free Giveaway Mailing

TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

Advertisement



HollywoodChicago.com on Twitter

archive

HollywoodChicago.com Top Ten Discussions
referendum
tracker