It’s a bare necessity

The Jungle Book
STARRING: Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Neel Sethi
DIRECTOR: Jon Favreau
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Rating: PG
106 mins

In this era of remakes and re-imaginings, it was with severe trepidation that I went to a screening of the new Jungle Book.

After all, surely nothing good could come of it? All I would see would be a butchering of an absolute classic (one of my favourites in the Disney portfolio, I may add) and the umpteenth attempt at recreating the magic of Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale.

Well, more fool me, because how wrong I was!

This is a delightful version that features some of the lushest visuals ever recorded on film, outstanding performances and a strong emotional heartbeat that resonate throughout.

The story should be familiar to everyone by now, and this film definitely borrows more from the 1967 animation than the Kipling novel, but it features enough changes at key moments to stand in its own right and forge its own trail through the dense jungle.

The Jungle Book tells the coming-of-age tale of Mowgli (Neel Sethi), who was raised as a man-cub by the wolf Raksha (Lupita Nyong’o). One day, the boy finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Sher Khan (Elba), who hates Man after a hunting incident left him scarred, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat.

Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (Murray).

During the adventure, which is as much a nostalgia trip for the audience as an educational excursion for Mowgli, we encounter various classic creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart. These include the seductive, hypnotic python Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) and the smooth-talking jazz enthusiast King Louie (Christopher Walken).

Director Jon Favreau does a superb job by sticking to the essentials (or should I say, the bare necessities) of the fable, but adds in his own sprinkling of scope and wonder too. It’s such an easy world to be immersed into, whether this is your first introduction to the story or your 10th, and the amazing photo-realistic visuals certainly help. The new versions of the classic songs are invigorated and stand out on their own too.

The movie wouldn’t work without its star (and only non-CGI actor) Sethi. He started working on the film when he was barely into double-figures, but he perfectly embodies the role. He has the slightly awkward swagger of a young child who feels more ready for the world than he actually is, but on the other hand exudes confidence as he challenges massive bears and stares down a dangerous tiger.

The fact that almost the entire shooting stage had him acting against nothing but a green screen, it makes his performance’s diverse range even more spectacular. You’d never know his digital counterparts weren’t actually there given how joyful, sorrowful and emotional his interactions with them are.

Let’s not forget though that as much as The Jungle Book wouldn’t work without a great Mowgli, it also couldn’t succeed without animal characters that feel as real as the movie’s star man-cub.

Thanks to a voice cast of such stellar reputation to complement the fresh-faced, youngster, the fantastic digital creatures are much more than pretty faces as they have their own personalities and characteristics that are fleshed out thoroughly. It’s a sign of a great film when you can hear the voice actors having so much fun purely through their spoken voice, and it reflects in their characters.

It’s hard to pinpoint any negatives as this is a movie to just make you sit back, smile and enjoy. However, be warned that this is quite a bit darker (thematically speaking) than you’d expect.

Those thinking of taking their youngest children along should be advised there are a few scares and some scenes which may upset them. But that’s just a very minor element, as this is a beautiful, modern translation of a timeless tale that does so many things right.

This is how remakes should be handled; with care, love and precision, backed up by an enthusiastic cast and stunning visuals.

Any film studio looking to reboot an old classic, of which there are probably dozens given the current climate, should look at this example and think: ‘I wanna be like you-oo-oo’ …

Showing in Novo Cinemas, Cineco, Seef II, Wadi Al Sail, Saar, Dana Cineplex

Rating: 4/5