Utterly charming!
Firmly targeted at families (and young kids in particular), inevitably the latest version of Kipling’s classic errs on the side of saccharine sweet (how else can you make a film about a boy being hunted by a tiger aimed at six year-olds?). But the mix of live action and animation is seamless and visually quite magical.
Director Jon Favreau (Iron Man 1 & 2) has reigned himself in to focus on a story that is essentially an old-fashioned adventure story – but he’s also recognised that there are some things in The Jungle Book you cannot change from the earlier Disney animation. Voiced by Bill Murray, Baloo steals the show: Idris Elba instils majesty and sympathy into Shere Khan – and Bear Necessities remains eminently singable.
Rating: 62%
It’s not just a beautiful-looking movie, but pretty damn heartfelt, too. Nice review.
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