ENDANGERED SPECIES

UK, 2021, 104 minutes, Colour.

Rebecca Romijn, Philip Winchester, Isabel Bassett, Michael Johnston, Chris Fisher, Jerry O'Connell, George Glenn Ouma.

Directed by M.J.Bassett.

Endangered Species takes its audience on a trip to Africa, to Kenya, to the wildlife national parks, to the luxury resorts, to the safaris, to encounters with poachers. It is very well intentioned, giving statistics about the poaching of rhinoceros, elephants, trade in tasks, the brutality of the hunting.

However, the film can be quite irritating at times – but this is because of the American family which goes on holiday, safari to Africa. They are wealthy Americans (although the father is in danger of losing his job in the oil industry), the mother something of a crusader, her daughter, irritated with her stepfather, rebellious (played by Isabel Bassett who co-wrote the screenplay with her parent, M.J.Bassett), along with her rather scruffy boyfriend who turns out to be better than we might have expected. There is also a petulant son, demands made on him by his father, his coming out as gay.

We are also introduced to poachers, led by Jerry O’Connell (married in real life to Rebecca Romijn). The poachers turn out to be exceedingly dastardly in the final part of the film, the family in considerable danger.

There are plenty of scenes of wildlife, but also scenes of danger, especially with rhinoceros wanting to defend its young. There are also plenty of hyenas and a leopard attacking the boyfriend.

A lot of this happens because, once again very American presumptuous, the father decides he can’t waste time signing in and going into the national Park which means then that when the car is attacked by the rhinoceros, breaks down, they are reduced to walking, running risks of the animals, crossing rivers… And the extreme threat and physical danger from the poachers at the end.

Worthy intentions, irritating American family.