TV Times

TV Times

Now the ‘Jungle Book 2’
Disney continues to plunder its vault of beloved animated features in order to churn out mostly unnecessary sequels. Some of them (Toy Story 2) are better than others and those win a theatrical release, while the lesser products (Little Mermaid 2, The Lion King 2) are consigned to home video. Just because some studio suit considered The Jungle Book 2 worthy of viewing in cinemas doesn’t mean movie-over will agree. The film is a half-hearted rehash of the 1967 animated musical-comedy.

Mowgli (Osment) misses the jungle and his pal Baloo (Goodman), and so leaves his village and ventures back into the bush, which is still populated by the fearsome Shere Khan (Jay) and other predators, as well as elephants and other friends.

But things aren’t quite the same as they once were. Baloo, the blubbery bear, realises that Mowgli has feelings for Shanti (Whitman), a cute girl from his village, and slowly comes to accept the fact that Mowgli just might be better off living with his own kind.

The Jungle Book 2 is quite innocuous and will only appeal to kids under the age of six. The animation is bright but mundane, and the songs are so instantly forgettable that director Trenbirth obviously felt compelled to reprise Bare Necessities not once, but several times!

There are a few amusing moments - particularly a cheeky tribute to the Beatles, and a couple of touching scenes, as when Mowgli and Baloo reunite after not having seen each other for a long while, but otherwise there’s nothing new, special or original.

Really, this one should have gone straight to video. It pales in comparison to its progenitor and, worse, it tarnishes the memory of the Jungle Book for those of us who cherished it as children. Mercifully, the whole thing, credits and endless Bare Necessities reprises included, runs a mere 72 minutes.

On the other hand, that makes it an even bigger waste of money for anyone forking over hard-earned cash and expecting an afternoon or evening of family entertainment. Rudyard Kipling must be spinning in his grave. Voices by Haley Joe! Osmanet, John Goodman, Mae Whitman, Tony Jay, Phill Collins
Director Steve Trenbirth
Screenplay Kerl Geurs and Carter Croker

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