Tarzan (1999)

 

Not going to lie: this is one of my favourite Disney-films of all time. Not for nostalgia's sake, because this came out when I was already 19. No, because this one works so wonderfully storywise and has some pretty brilliant animation as well. Does it have certain issues? Yes. But do they matter in the long run? 

Maybe just a little.

The tale of a child raised by apes is presented here a little differently. For starters, it's not chimpanzees that adopt Tarzan, but gorillas. Before you shout: "Heresy!", allow me to state that I find this a nice touch, actually. Because we now know that chimpanzees can be a right bunch of pricks, at least a lot more than gorillas who are very gentle creatures in fact. Besides, gorillas are visually nicer and more diverse to look at most of the time. Anyway, after Tarzan's parents survive a shipwreck and make their home in the jungle, a nearby gorilla mom named Kala loses her baby to a leopard. She hears the human baby crying and saves him from the very same leopard and decides to adopt him, in spite of what the silverback thinks. Tarzan grows up and never quite fits in (yes, it's that kind of story again, I know). 

Things change when a couple of humans enter the jungle. Professor Porter and his daughter Jane want to see and mayhap study gorillas, but great white hunter Clayton of course just wants to shoot some. Yes, the lines between good and evil are ridiculously obvious. Also, you will immediately know what will happen: Tarzan will want to spend more time with the humans, fall in love with Jane and eventually lead them to the gorillas, thus paving the way for that betrayal angle you knew was coming. It will all lead to a pretty grisly showdown with Clayton, culminating in possibly one of the more gruesome deaths in a Disney picture (and there are many to choose from). 

But still, the film flows at such a wonderful pace, it is vibrant and feels very much alive, it all connects, the jokes usually land and it just makes you feel deeply satisfied at the end with a broad grin on your face. 

Is everything on point? No. This was the start of the Phil Collins-era of music and his soundtrack is okay, but he is way too present. He actually sings every song and that does get on your nerves. Also, Rosie O'Donnell as Terk (Tarzan's gorilla-friend) is a little too present and can be annoying at times. 

But the casting is for the most part spot on. Heck, Lance Henriksen as the silverback Kerchak? Wonderful. The inimitable Brian Blessed as Clayton? Exquisitely evil and devious. I love the casting choices, for the most part. 

'Tarzan' is like 'The Hunchback of the Notre Dame' one of those fun and engaging Disney adaptations of clasical works. It has your familiar tropes, but it still works and it's actually a shame that this one doesn't get as much love in the whole videography of Disney. But try it out, you will not be disappointed. 

And gorillas rule. Fight me.