MIGHTY JOE YOUNG

US, 1998, 109 minutes, Colour.
Charlize Theron, Bill Paxton, Rade Serbedzija, Peter Firth, David Paymer, Regina King, Naveen Andrews.
Directed by Ron Underwood.

Mighty Joe Young is a remake of the 1949 film of the same name. That film was directed by Ernest Schoesdak, co-director of King Kong. The screenplay of Mighty Joe Young combines elements of the Tarzan story (feminised) and a variation on the King Kong theme, this time with the gorilla very sympathetic.

In this new version, African locations are used to great advantage. The film stars Charlize Theron (Tuesdays in the Valley, The Cider House Rules, Monster) as the young woman whose mother has been killed by poachers at the same time as Joe's mother. They survive in the forest together. As the years passed, she is able to communicate with the gorilla and play games with him. Into this situation comes researcher, Bill Paxton, who is able to save Joe from poachers by transferring him to an open park in California. David Paymer and Regina King play the curators of the park.

The villains are played by Rade Serbedzija and Peter Firth. They have killed Jill's mother as well as Joe's mother and have plans to transfer Joe to their own park in Botswana. However, Joe reacts badly to taunts, causes mayhem at an official reception, goes on a Disney-rated rampage in Los Angeles, ultimately saving a little boy from a ferris wheel and being reunited with his friend and living happily ever after in his own park in Africa.

The film, performances and themes are much better than the description might sound. Direction is by Ron Underwood who has directed a variety of entertaining films including City Slickers, Tremors.

1. The popularity of films about apes and gorillas? The King Kong tradition? This film and its connection with King Kong and variation on its themes?

2. The African settings, the poachers, the researchers? The mountain, the traditions of a legendary gorilla? The contrast with the Californian settings, the park? The use of Los Angeles and its landmarks for the final chase and confrontation? Musical score?

3. Apes, gorillas, conservation issues, poaching issues, crime, preservation of nature? The film's contribution to these themes?

4. The prologue with Ruth Young, her daughter, her work among the gorillas, the poachers, her pursuit of them, the mother gorilla being shot, Ruth being shot? Jill overhearing the killers? Her taking Joe and taking care of him, their growing up together, their communication?

5. Greg O'Hara, getting the team, capturing the leopard, getting the blood sample, not trying to capture the animals? The confrontation by Joe, his taking photos, the amazement and fear of the team? Joe pursuing them? O'Hara and his questions in the town, seeing Jill and her friend, his being warned off, the video camera, his following Jill, her breaking the camera? His understanding the truth, the clash between them, her taunting him, his offering a safe haven for Joe in California to avoid poachers?

6. Jill's agreement, going to California, the arrival, Harry and Cecily and their amazement? Joe settling into the park? Mr Baker, his interest, support after seeing the demonstration (with Harry being bold and then having to learn to play hide and seek with Joe)? The preparation for the party, his patronising attitude towards Jill? The party, the revelation of Joe, his being taunted by the poachers and his mayhem with the party?

7. Strasser and Garth, hunting, the killing of the gorilla, the killing of Ruth Young? Strasser losing his thumb? Their reappearance, the television sight of Joe, their coming to California, the smooth talk with Jill, the offer to take Joe to Africa? Garth and his disturbing Joe, causing the rampage? Strasser and Garth in the truck, Jill realising the truth, her getting out? Strasser pursuing Jill, Garth preventing Strasser from killing her? Joe pursuing Strasser and his electrocution death?

8. The authorities in California, Harry and Cecily, brashness, care, helping the escape? Mr Baker and the fundraising?

9. Joe himself, a personality, his relationship with Jill, playing games? The threats? Going to California, settling in? His being disturbed, the crashing of the party, the chase throughout Los Angeles, the "Hollywood" sign, the theme park? The police and their wanting to shoot, their being restrained? The little boy and the ferris wheel, the rescue and Joe's fall? Recovery? Happy ever after in Africa?

10. A family film, an animal film - with a message about conservation?