JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE

US, 1997, 105 minutes, Colour.
Tim Allen, Martin Short, Jo Beth Williams, Lolita Davidovich, David Ogden Stiers, Bob Dishy.
Directed by John Pasquin.

Jungle 2 Jungle is an enjoyable Disney film - if somewhat predictable. It is a star vehicle for Tim Allen, from TV's Home Improvement. His earlier film, also directed by John Pasquin, was The Santa Clause.

Here Allen plays one of those parents who is ignorant of his son's existence and when he discovers it, is in a dilemma whether to keep on with his intensive obsession with business or to become a family man. This was the kind of theme done during the early '90s, the most successful example being Jim Carrey's Liar, Liar.

The film is also a variation on the Tarzan theme as well as films like The Emerald Forest. It seems that Allen has a son by his former wife, born in the Amazon and about to undergo initiation. Part of his initiation is to get fire from the Statue of Liberty and bring it back to the Amazon tribe. This gives the occasion for the son, played by Sam Huntington, to have some intercultural experiences in New York City and compare the way of life in the two jungles.

There is comic support from Martin Short as Allen's exasperated business partner. There is also some comedy with the Russian Mafia, led by David Ogden Stiers. Jo Beth Williams is the first wife and Lolita Davidovich is about to become the second. It is all done in a kind of cute Disney and somewhat knowing style.

1. The appeal of this kind of Disney family film? For adults and their reflections about their relationship with their children? For children - spirit of adventure, relationships with parents? Coping in the 1990s and the two jungles?

2. The Disney qualities: cute, predictable, genial, some slapstick humour (especially with Charlotte's cat)? The boiling of the tropical fish...?

3. New York City and its style? The Statue of Liberty? The homes in the country? The Amazon settings, the river, the flight, the forest? The two contrasting atmospheres? The significance of the title? Mimi- Siku and his moving from jungle to jungle?

4. The film as a star vehicle for Tim Allen? His comic style, timing, physical humour, verbal humour? His not knowing that he had a son? Hurrying to the Amazon for the divorce papers? The city slicker in the jungle? The Amazonians having fun at Michael's expense? The experience of the initiation - and the demands made on him? The effect of seeing his wife again? The effect of discovering that he had a son?

5. The New York background? The boss and the pressures about the deals? The working relationship with Richard? The comedy patter between the two? The phones, the confirmation of deals? The mobile phone in the Amazon - and the mix-up with the coffee deal?

6. The return to New York City? Michael and the business concern, the clash with Richard? His trying to take care of Mimi- Siku? Introducing him to Charlotte? Her reactions? Mimi- Siku and his flight, trying to adapt to the city? Being cared for, being neglected? Michael and his being busy? The Russian Mafia and the deals, desperation, the encounters, the violence? The build-up to the final confrontation?

7. Mimi- Siku and the city, his not knowing the manners of the city - as regards toilets, out on the roof, climbing the Statue of Liberty? Clothes? His trying to understand? His attraction towards Richard's daughter? Going to stay with the family in the country? Throwing away the frozen fish, boiling the tropical fish (and Richard's hysterical reaction)? The family trying to welcome him - with the intercultural differences? On the swing with the daughter and Richard's over-reaction? His wanting to go back to the jungle?

8. The comedy with the Russians? The caricature of the gangsters? The leader and his henchmen and their ineffectiveness, comic villains? The fight and the family being able to overcome them?

9. Charlotte, her glamour, reactions to Mimi-Siku? The animals, the snake, being petrified? Her photographer? The incompatibility with Michael? The comedy with the cat?

10. The build-up to the fight, the whole family joining in? Humorous knockabout comedy?

11. The boss, the change of the coffee prices and the vindication of Michael and Richard?

12. Mimi- Siku and his wanting to return to his village? His father giving him the Statue of Liberty cigarette lighter? Back in the jungle, with his mother, with the tribe? Achieving manhood? His father ringing, the humour of his being on the river bank? The whole family coming, including Karen? The bonding of the jungle of New York with the jungle of the Amazon?

13.Disney and the exploration of family values? The single-parent families of the '90s? Broader families and bonding? The contrast with the Amazon tribe, the extended family, initiation rites, maturity? And the postscript with Michael trying out the same initiation rites?