"This your jungle, Baboon?"      

JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE (PG) 

Jungle 2 Jungle stars Tim (the tool man) Allen as Michael Cromwell, a successful commodities broker who travels to a remote village in the Amazon to find his wife.  Why's he looking for her? To get her to sign divorce papers, of course.  Thirteen years after she walked away from their marriage, Cromwell wants the papers signed so he can marry his fashion-designer fiancee Charlotte (Lolita Davidovich).  A clean break, a new life, no problems right?

Well, unfortunately for Cromwell, his trip to the Amazon unveils Mimi-Siku (Sam Huntington), a thirteen year old rock-climbing, lizard-gut-eating, blow-gun-shooting son he never knew he had. Cromwell never wanted kids, and instantly he gets a twelve year old Amazonian with a hankering to see the Statue of Liberty.  Cromwell, of course, reluctantly takes Mimi-Siku to New York, and...well...if you've seen Crocodile Dundee, you can pretty much guess what happens next.

Those of us who are familiar with Tim Allen's humor will find much of the same in Jungle 2 Jungle. Allen has a flair for playing the "in-control" kind of guy who comically loses control of things, and Jungle 2 Jungle certainly puts him in this element.  Add the slapstick humor provided by Martin Short (who plays Cromwell's hyperactive commodities partner), and you've got the formula for a pretty funny flick.  And, indeed, there are some truly funny scenes in Jungle 2 Jungle.  Hey, between all the blow-gun mishaps, the dead pigeons, and that darned taranchula, who can help but laugh every once in a while?  Unfortunately, these types of comic mishaps are really the sum total of Jungle 2 Jungle.  There aren't many well-developed characters or relationships in this film, and for the most part the film floats from scene-to-scene.  This is, for better or worse, your quintessential video pick of the week--a pleasant but otherwise unspectacular film that's great for a quiet evening on the sofa.  If you're a die-hard Tim Allen fan, go see Jungle 2 Jungle in the theaters; if not, don't worry about waiting the few months it'll take for this to come out on video.

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing, folks!

Sam Huntington gives this movie  stars: "it was the best mivie i ever played in" (6/1/01)

sweet_angel@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "i loved the movie it is my favorite movie!!!! Sam Huntington and Frankie Galassp are soooooooooooo hot!!!!!!!" (6/1/01)

rfksecond2@cs.com gives this movie  stars: "Tim Allen rocks. Bland acting otherwise. Story started to suck but the movie was real funny and enjoyable to watch." (6/20/00)

Willis429@msn.com gives this movie  stars: "This movie is soooooooooo great! I enjoyed laughing alot at Tim Allen,he is such a great actor. I also like Sam Huntington. He is so cute!" (11/4/99)

pherring65@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "I loved this movie. It was,in my opinion,one of the best movies Disney has made. Iwas wandering, if at all possible,could you please send me the e-mail address' of the main charactors (Michael,Mimi,Karen,and Martin)." (12/31/98)

maco11@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "best movie I have seen in a long long time" (12/25/98)

Sam Huntington gives this movie  star: "I was in this movie and I still thought it sucked I wish I was dead, this is the worst movie of all time." (10/12/98)

allstarkidz@yahoo.com says: "I loved that movie and I love the show tool time" (9/20/98)

David gives this movie  stars: "A great a well thought out performance by Tim Allen, who spices up the movie. Good plot and good fun. If it gets these things in the right place, it is thumbs up. Fun and loveable characters, like Mimi and Martin Short (One of the funniest guys around) gives this movie more pizzazz and enjoyment. Good fun!" (2/3/98)

David gives this movie  stars: "Good film, good plot, good charcters, good fun." (1/24/98)

Kevin gives this movie  stars: "Best movie I've seen in a while!! I give two thumbs way way up!" (7/17/97)

lmyers@horizon.hit.net gives this movie  stars: "This was a real funny movie. Tim Allen is great. I would go see it again.It was great!!!!!" (4/16/97)