Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is a 2018 CGI film about a human child raised by wolves who must face off against a menacing tiger named Shere Khan, as well as his own origins.
Timing is everything, and because so, the knee-jerk reaction to the announcement of Andy Serkis‘ Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle felt just sort of well, meh. We’d just sat through the new eye-popping CGI Disney version and it seemed like there was no wiggle room to return. Fortunately, this second telling understands that and, while the story is familiar – like those repeated attempts to tell the story of Spider-Man – there is enough different about it to keep it watchable, even if it fails to really do anything beyond.
You know how it goes. A young boy is lost in the jungles, this time after his mother is killed by the savage tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), leaving him in the care of the noble Bagheera (voiced by Christian Bale), who places him with a wolf brood to be raised. From there, the adventures abound with the boy earning the name Mowgli (played by Rohan Chand). He meets Baloo (Serkis), the bear and Kaa (voiced by Cate Blanchett), the slippery snake, who also narrates the whole show and is said to able to see the past and future. It all leads to the inevitable showdown with the mighty tiger.
Sticking more closely to Rudyard Kipling‘s book, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle is a well-made adaptation that has its heart and intentions in the right place, looking to sort of make the more recognizable Disney version more gritty while while still trying to be family friendly. Admittedly, it is a bit scarier I would think for younger audiences (this is more of a teen angst movie led by elementary boy), something set in place from the start with a particularly frightening opening that includes pools of blood that imply everything we don’t see. There is much more coming.
There are more moments as well that remind us that these creatures are instinctive animals, leading to other potentially jarring bits where teeth take center stage, further separating itself from the Disney pack, but in scenes, for instance, like when Mowgli runs with the wolf pack to test their abilities, it’s designed to show an evolution in the boy that will help him survive. It’s scary but it feels earned, even if children might shield their eyes. Parents, be warned.
From there, the story centers on the relationships with these iconic animals and yes, the animation is very good, though anything made at this level is sort of expected to be. They aren’t quite as warmly crafted as Jon Favreau‘s Disney version, but they are certainly convincing enough for the target viewer. This is a purposeful choice of course, though it strips some of the accessibility out of it. Do we really want to see a ‘what if?’ scenario that plays it like a real life Tarzan but with talking animals? It’s an ify line to tread upon.
With Blanchett’s narration voice feeling like a visit from Galadriel, and the absence of King Louie (also not in the original book), there are oddities that will make the beloved (on screen) story feel different. Serkis is spinning a lot of plates narratively, trying to heap on all sorts of emotional and moral twists from bullies to outcasts to independence to community, most of which is glossed over in favor of the need to position the boy as a hero to the jungle. It’s a solid effort and indeed, a nice companion to Favreau’s film, not for comparison but for interpretation. This will surely garner some fans, rightfully so, though it’s timing really is it’s ultimately setback.