Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Deep in the African jungle, a baby named George, the sole survivor of a plane crash, is raised by gorillas. George grows up to be a buff and lovable klutz who has a rainforest full of animal friends: Tookie, his big-beaked toucan messenger; Ape, a witty talking gorilla; and Shep, a peanut-loving pooch of an elephant. But when poachers mess with George's pals, the King of Swing swings into action.
George of the Jungle is a cheerful, self-aware live-action adaptation of the classic cartoon that leans heavily into meta-humor and slapstick. The plot is thin and episodic, essentially a fish-out-of-water romantic comedy with a paper-thin villain subplot. Acting is broadly cartoonish — Brendan Fraser commits physically but the performances are intentionally one-dimensional. Cinematography is competent with solid use of lush jungle locations and some fun stunt work. Its novelty comes from its consistent fourth-wall-breaking narration and gleefully self-referential tone, which gives it a distinct comedic voice that separates it from straight Tarzan adaptations. The ending is predictable and formulaic, resolving everything tidily with no real surprise.