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Human. Nature.

The Legend of Tarzan, UK/Canada/USA, 2016. Directed by D. Yates, written by A. Cozad and C. Brewer (from the stories by E. Rice Burroughs). With Alexander Skasgård, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Djimon Honsou. Original music by R. Gregson-Williams. Length: 110′. Rated: PG-13.

Tarzan has rejoined society for quite some time when he and Jane go back to Congo, where John Clayton, Tarzan’s real name, will operate as an English diplomat. But Belgium has set eyes on Africa’s riches and Leon, together with the local chief Mbonga, has come to terms with killing the former king of the jungle…

This last installment comes at quite the right time. As Peter Jackson’s stature still can’t be discussed, the last Middle-Earth movie collapse under the deficiencies that the first two (or five) movies succeeded in avoiding and, though spectacular, leaves a taste of partial failure that doesn’t feel right at the end of this great project.

The first and perfect reaction to this movie would be: what the…?
Seriously, the trailer didn’t suggest anything else, but this bold try at rebooting the Tarzan legend with this sequel, incredibly far from the original story, cannot satisfy in any aspect.

Let’s just say that the digital building of animals, landscapes and action scenes grows overwhelming in an incredibly short time and the story, at times entertaining, builds up a Tarzan who’s not really the character we remembered, far from his instinctive nature but at the same time too dull to be a man that has left his past behind for what seems to be a few years at least. Also, I don’t really know why they all had to include some useless sequences, as Tarzan shouldn’t have quarrels with any animal here and, most of all, why they felt the urge to tell us again about Tarzan’s  background, with his tragic story of parental loss and monkey adoption. Nothing of this movie settles in the way it should do, and nothing feels in place.

The same is true for the cast, which in any other movie would prove much  worthier. Alexander Skarsgård, who might not be known to a large percentage of the audience, might be physically good to play the king of the jungle and, even if the story was not build in a smart way, he surely might have brought something more to this stereotyped character; a flat performance with just the merit of being the only credible talent during the action scenes. Margot Robbie is equally a perfect fit for Jane, and I feel that her character is slightly better since Jane’s attitude, stronger than her looks, is rightly maintained; even so, she doesn’t emerge from the terrible sensation of dullness that the movie has in itself. Djimon Honsou is maybe the only one that gives a personal touch to his character, since chief Mbonga is a new character, and his long career fought to conquer more important roles helps in perceiving him in a ‘break mood’, so that his performance is guided by a serenity impossible to feel for the others.
The highest disappointment rate is left for Christoph Waltz; not for his acting skills, undoubtedly good and maybe just hidden in this movie, but for his choice to accept such an ungrateful role. He deserves much more than this low rated blockbuster, even if directed by an equally talented director (and equally disappointing) like David Yates.

Rupert Gregson-Williams tries to relieve the audience’s sentiment with some inspiring themes and tribal music, but the truth is that if the visual aspect is this bad, the soundtrack cannot operate miracles to save the day. Listened to without any visual interference, it might even prove enjoyable.

In short: nothing justifies such a shameful marketing operation and unfortunately this is a false step for the whole cast and crew, because they all tied themselves to a project that had no chances whatsoever to be a success.

DOWNLOAD REVIEW IN PDF: The Legend of Tarzan, 2016

LEGGI LA RECENSIONE IN ITALIANO: The Legend of Tarzan – Recensione