Tarzan 2: The Legend Begins

(2005) Tarzan II ANIMATION/ CHILDREN/ ADVENTURE

After the moderate success of Disney's animated "Tarzan" cartoon movie released in 1999, the studio decided to produce a sequel which went straight-to-rental and it's a very good move on their part because that's where it needs to go, since it's just a simplistic recycled mess out of many other Disney classics that came before it especially the supposedly comedy scenes! Retelling the "Tarzan" legend created by Edgar Rice Burroughs -Disney style centering way too long about 'how come young Tarzan can't do some of the same things as his other apes friends' besides not looking like one almost made me like not wanting to care at this point, for as the movie progresses with the help of an older ape, he was able to identify the features he already has such as his using hands and his feet but it's so boring. For children, they may suck up to this since they may not have seen many as much as you, but a warning to all parents and adults the only reason to see this (if theirs any reason at all all) is to hear some of our favorite actors/ actresses doing the voices which can also be distracting since a lot of the dialogue is repetitive and somewhat annoying. These voices include George Carlin as Hugo, Glenn Close as Kala, Brad Garret as Uto, Lance Henrickson as Kerchak and Ron Pearlman as Kugo. Besides the cartoon being straight forward, conventional and unfunny was Phil Collins annoying songs throughout- they were so boring that I used a remote control to whiz through them. It's sole message is okay, but even at a running time of 1 hour and 12 minutes still felt quite long, perhaps it should've been 35 or 45 minute and at the same time cut out the uninspiring singing, the cheap jokes and I might've like this one a little more.

Disney's "Tarzan II" is a fun family film to watch, and I must say that it is much, much better than "Tarzan and Jane." This sequel centers around Tarzan's childhood, and what he had to go through while seeking his real identity. All the lovely characters are back of course, with other new fun characters. The animation of this film was quite satisfying and the songs by Phil Collins were also lovely. I have to say, however, that this film is mostly for kids but it has some good laughs for adults though . Also, do not expect this sequel to be better than the original "Tarzan" but still, it is a good one compared to other sequels, and is worth watching.

"Tarzan 2," directed by Brian Smith, is a direct-to-video prequel that explores Tarzan's childhood before he becomes the jungle hero we know. The story follows young Tarzan as he struggles to find his place in the jungle, feeling different from both the animals and his adoptive ape family.

The film features solid voice performances, with Harrison Chad voicing young Tarzan, bringing a sense of curiosity and vulnerability to the character. Glenn Close and Lance Henriksen return as Kala and Kerchak, adding continuity and depth to the narrative. The animation maintains the vibrant, lush quality of the original film, immersing viewers in the jungle's beauty.

While "Tarzan 2" lacks the epic scope and emotional weight of the first movie, it provides an engaging and heartfelt look at Tarzan's formative years. The storyline is simple yet charming, emphasizing themes of self-discovery and belonging. It's a suitable watch for younger audiences and fans of the original film, offering a light, enjoyable adventure that expands on Tarzan's backstory.

Remember the 'Son of Man' sequence from the original Disney 'Tarzan' film? It showed Tarzan learning how to be an ape man, he grew up - it lasted a few minutes and it was fine. We used our imaginations to fill in the blanks.

Disney obviously felt that more of the blanks needed to be filled in, so we end up with 'Tarzan 2', a misleadingly titled film that is actually a midquel, fleshing out the 'Son of Man' sequence to over an hour.

It's fine, it's ok, it has its moments, but you can almost hear the cash cow being milked.

Tarzan II I would say is maybe the best looking of the direct-to- video sequels. I was pretty overwhelmed by the beautiful landscapes and how grand they were made.

To shortly sum up my impression of the idea of making a so-called midquel: I think it was a great idea, because we did not see that much of how Tarzan coped with his identity issues in the original. Is it handled perfectly, you ask? No, not exactly, but when the movie has that theme in its undivided focus it works out well without any need for words. George Carlin's role as Zugor did make a good impression on me, because I was a little skeptical to begin with. He and Tarzan share some heartfelt moments together, even if the pay-off of Tarzan's search for his identity comes off as underwhelming.

The harshest criticism I have towards Tarzan II is that these three apes, Mama Gunda, Kago and Uto were really unnecessary as bad-guys. They could have made the same impact on Tarzan's life with a smaller role. But it could have been awesome to see more of how Sabor thretened the gorillas, because he seemed like a real threat in the original.

Tarzan II is an okay watch, and kids can enjoy the adventure and the comedy while adults may find it pleasant to see the heartfelt moments. Again, this is a Disney sequel so therefore the original is by far a better movie, but with that said, this is not insulting to its predecessor.