George of the Jungle 2

Poor Jay Ward. The creator of the insanely cleaver “The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle” cartoon series of the 60s hasn’t had his legacy treated very well by movie studios for quite some time. What was surprising was the first cinematic film on “George of the Jungle,” the clumsy Tarzan-like ape man, came out best of them all. Managing to keep the gullible vs. intelligent quota of the original and bringing the 2D world to one that was 3D with reasonable style.

Amy Flower said in her review, “But that had Brendan Fraser up its sleeve – which loincloths don’t have, so perhaps that was a really stupid thing to say."

Anyway, he wasn’t able to reprise the role of George in the sequel, nor were Leslie Mann for George’s lover Ursula or Holland Taylor as her mother Beatrice. I guess everyone can tell this is going to be a cheap 2003 direct-to-video sequel.

Flower said, “OK, so it may sound so-far-so-bad, however with a quite faithful George spirit still alive and well, and with some engaging self-referential humour towards the whole lack-of-Brendan situation, this sequel actually manages to equal its predecessor – we’ll allow you to make of that what you will.”

Chris Showerman replaces Fraser and expands in all the right places, and Julie Benz suits the girlfriend requirement of Ursula (Flower noted, “although seeing Darla the evil vampire canoodling with George never quite sits right for this unashamed Angel fan”). Taking place five years after the first movie, we now see the casting of the necessary Disney Cute Kid, played by Angus T. Jones, and they have included a boxing kangaroo (John Kassir), but otherwise everything is left as we last saw it – completely stupid and filled with pride at such.

You want to know what the story is? Ursula’s former fiancé, Lyle (Thomas Haden Church), wants her back, so joining forces with her meddling mother (Christina Pickles), who just cannot stand seeing her daughter living in the jungle, a plan is made to get them back to the city, involving a hypnotist (John Kassir) along with two Amazon rejects (Marjean Holden and Erika Heynatz). Not only wanting to ruin George’s marriage, Lyle also has plans to bulldoze the Bukuvu and Ape Mountain to make a resort – and no possibility of Ursula living in the jungle. Meanwhile, noises other than those of Shep (Tress MacNeille) are afoot in the jungle, with a vicious lion wanting to become king (Michael Clarke Duncan), while George’s brother Ape (John Cleese) now living in a Vegas building with a large gambling dept that he’s been unable to avoid the addiction of the cards. Flower said, “Cut those sentences into as many pieces as you wish, jumble them all up then sticky-tape them together and no matter which way you look at it you should have the gist of this little puppy.”

Flower admitted, “Those who loved the off-the-wall spirit of the original George of the Jungle mini-cartoons which accompanied Rocky and Bullwinkle’s adventures should get off on the reasonably authentic vibe of chaos at work here, held together for the most part by the dastardly ditzy interruptions of The Narrator (Australia’s Keith Scott) at every possible turn.” Much of the clumsiness, the urine-taking, the complete goofiness and fun finds its way into this, and as far as Disney films go if you’re not a boring adult, but rather someone who gets in touch with their inner child, you’re sure to have a giggle here and there. If all else fails, there are always the fart jokes.

“George of the Jungle 2” may not be as good as the first one, but then again, what would you expect from a direct-to-video sequel? It may have the typical cliché sequel syndrome, but I don’t’ know. If you want to see it, it may not hurt, but then again, it is all up to you. Check it out and see for yourself, but I don’t think you’ll like it.

Look out tomorrow when I review another animated movie that is really enjoyable in “Disney Month 2022.”