Today’s quick review: The Legend of Tarzan. After eight years in England, Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard) and his wife Jane (Margot Robbie) return to their home in the jungles of Africa to help American emissary Dr. Williams (Samuel L. Jackson) gather evidence that Belgium is taking slaves in the Congo. To do so, Tarzan will have to face Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz), a ruthless Belgian agent, and his ally Chief Mbonga (Djimon Hounsou), an old enemy of Tarzan’s.
The Legend of Tarzan is an action adventure movie based on the books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Legend of Tarzan tells the story of a mature Tarzan who has reclaimed his place in England as John Clayton, the Lord Greystoke. Tarzan must return to Africa for a worthy cause on a journey that will reunite him with old friends and pit him against new enemies. Decent action and a well thought out story give the movie some appeal in spite of its flaws.
The Legend of Tarzan is notable for its grounded, balanced take on the character. This incarnation of Tarzan has a rich history and a robust skill set. Physical strength, an affinity for animals, and a deep knowledge of the wilds and the people of Africa give Tarzan the tools he needs to succeed as an action hero. The action sequences are a mixture of animal fights, hand-to-hand combat, and vine-swinging; these are capably done but not outstanding.
The Legend of Tarzan also puts a fair amount of thought into its story. The plot concerns a bid by King Leopold of Belgium to take over the Congo by hook or by crook. The movie uses this premise to weave the classic tale of Tarzan, Tarzan’s mastery of the wild, a new villain for him to face, and the colonialism of the late 19th century together into one coherent story. This coherence gives it an unusually well-developed story for the adventure genre.
However, the movie does make a few mistakes that end up costing it. The film uses special effects to handle its action, animals, and environments, but it doesn’t always do the best job of blending them in. The CGI gives the film an odd visual quality that hurts its immersion and takes some of the weight from its action scenes. The slight skew to the visuals goes hand-in-hand with a style of direction that’s a little too busy for the story at hand.
The Legend of Tarzan also fails to make the most of a talented cast. The only major misstep is Margot Robbie, whose capable, caring take on Jane gets roped into being an unnecessary mouthpiece for the modern perspective. The other performances are workmanlike in a cast that can deliver better. The only real hit is Christoph Waltz as Leon Rom, a soft-spoken villain with the presence to come across as a credible threat.
Watch The Legend of Tarzan when you’re in the mood for some adventure with a serious tone. The Legend of Tarzan does enough right to make for an interesting watch, both as an action adventure and as a cohesive story. However, it makes enough minor mistakes to keep it from being the wondrous, exciting movie it’s trying to be. The curious should give it a shot. Skeptics may want to steer clear.
For a kid-friendly take on the same source material, try Disney’s Tarzan. For another adaptation of a Burroughs story that gets mixed results, try John Carter. For a similar reimagining of a familiar story, try Dracula Untold.
6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a competent take on a classic story.