'The Legend of Tarzan' review: Watch if you're a sucker for closure
If you expected more, you might let out a Tarzan yell in frustration.
Film: The Legend of TarzanDirector: David YatesCast: Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Christoph Waltz, Djimon Hounsou, Samuel L Jackson
What it's about
When we meet Tarzan (Skarsgård), he is a member of the House of Lords and as John Clayton III, Viscount of Greystroke, he has no intention of returning to Africa, where spent his childhood and became a legend as the Lord of The Apes. He's married to his love Jane (Robbie) now and when prevailed upon by the British Prime Minister to return to the Belgian Congo as a trade emissary after receiving an invite from the King of Belgium, he turns them down.
It is George Washington Williams, an African-American statesman and author who gives him a reason that's enough: the suspected brutal slavery rampant in that part of Africa.Of course, Jane wants to tag along and John'll have none of it, but she has her way anyway. By and by, she's kidnapped by the villain of the story, a Belgian named Leon Rom (Waltz), who tries to lure Tarzan out to rescue her. He has his reasons and as we find out, so does Chief Mbonga (Hounsou), who has revenge on his mind. Not to mention, there's also the fact that he's been away a long time and he has to meet his ape family, too.
What's hot
There are not too many complaints against the CGI department. Skarsgård is easy on the eyes as is Robbie. As Rom, Waltz is in his element in a role that could well have been a bore. Hounsou is awesome as always. There is much beauty to be found in the great African outdoors. Yates keeps the action interesting, the flow easy-going and has made, what could at its best be, a good-looking product. Also, he doesn't linger on the origin story too long. After all, we do know the tale, right?
What's not
Our times are different than when the previous retellings were made and we find Yates treading far too safely and lightly around situations that might feel like it has racist overtones. The original story by Edgar Rice Burroughs was set in a different time. Uneasy as the times might now seem, it should have ringed truer rather than using token characters to prove a point. Skarsgård is a looker but gets to do little more than the obvious. Sad!
What to do
If you're a sucker for a tale where you root for the 'sequel' where the hero returns for closure (or possibly new beginnings), this film is for you. If you expected it to be more, you might as well let out a Tarzan yell in frustration.