Movie Review - The Legend of Tarzan

The Legend of Tarzan ** (out of 5) (PG-13) Here we go again... This time the oft-depicted English lord raised by apes in the African jungle to become a mythical hero is surrounded by better special effects than any of his predecessors. He’s also played by studly Alexander Skarsgard, best known as the bad-boy/good-guy vampire, Eric, from HBO’s True Blood. While sturdy vines may allow fast and free movement through the trees, the script from four credited writers overwhelms the action with tedious backstories, setups and dialog. With perhaps 20 of its 110-minute running time left on the floor, this could have turned out to be far more exciting, since most of the clashes and close encounters are quite nicely staged when they finally arrive.

We open in 1890, with Tarzan and Jane (Margot Robbie) enjoying the posh life that comes with his title of Lord Greystoke. The well-dressed, but still long-haired and fit, member of the House of Lords is persuaded to return to the Congo on the invitation of Belgium’s king, which will supposedly help England’s political ties and finances in exploiting its unfair share of the Dark Continent’s abundant resources. We know the offer is a trap, with the king’s colonial henchman (Christoph Waltz, in the elegantly sleazy villain mode he does so well) plotting a snatch and grab to deliver him to a local chief with a major grudge, as payment for access to the huge cache of diamonds beneath his tribe’s turf. A very modern Jane insists on coming along; same for an American agent (Samuel L. Jackson) with his own agendas, which include some social and moral issues beyond the usual animal protection themes of yore.

Clips of Tarzan’s well-known infancy and youth among the gorillas are interspersed as flashbacks for those who are new to the character, and to establish connections that are renewed along the way. Despite the multi-species fight scenes, large and small, it’s unlikely any were actually harmed...or even filmed. The production was shot entirely in England and Wales, though about 90% is set in the Congo. Ya gotta love what they can do with computers these days.

The inevitable climactic battle is quite stunning, but the patience required to reach that point may fall short of justifying the wait. Mercifully, nothing in the script proffers a sequel. (7/1/16)