George of the Jungle

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George of the Jungle
Rated: PG

So here is one great thing about snow days; discovering old movies that you forgot were there are AND finding out you really enjoy them. This is how I came across my next pick; George of the Jungle.

This is the story of George, a boy raised by apes who is the clumsy yet never self conscious king of the jungle. George is confident, yet sweet and kind, which is part of the reason when heiress Ursula shows up in his jungle and he saves her, there are sparks. In my opinion, it also helps that the jungle man is a totally buffed our Brendan Frasier who remains shirtless pretty much the whole film. See evidence below:

When George is accidentally shot by Ursula’s weird fiancée who shows up unannounced (Thomas Hayden Church is always a great goofy bad guy), she takes him back to her jungle…San Francisco. The story from there is pretty much about George in his new Jungle, and the choice to go back to the life he loved before or stay in civilization.

So now what I think; This is another cartoon turned live action film…but it was one of the first. The original cartoon in 1967 apparently only ran for 17 episodes, but this live action film made in 1997 had way more staying power.

True, it is a little corny. There’s a snooty sounding narrator that fills in the details above the action. But I think it’s really funny whenever the narrator says something and then the characters immediately repeat it, or even better, agree with him. A lot of the humor is physical slapstick type stuff (which my boys found especially amusing), and the characters often cross that fourth wall (you know, the invisible one that lets us see into the action but not be part of it), directly addressing the audience. Once, one of the bad guys even started arguing with the narrator. My advice is to go into it without thinking a lot, and you will find it fun and charming. You may even find a few good lessons about being happy with what you have and not caring about what others think. It’s all about just being happy with yourself.

Favorite Part:

So, there is this one part where George and goes with the blond heiress to attend a fancy schmancy party at Ursula’s parents mansion. Somewhere in the midst of the revelry, Ursula’s best friend pulls her aside and asks with a knowing smile if she knows where her “jungle man” is. She finds him, outside, running with the horses behind her parents’ stable. Her friends are draped over the fence, watching with wide eyes and open mouths. The part that cracks me up is that after hearing some girly discussion about “take me with you Africa next time”, the camera pans out and you see some young gentlemen watching the ladies huddle around the fence (apparently unaware of why) and one comments, “What is it with chics and horses?” Indeed.

Something appropriate to nosh on:

Ape Mountain Banana Cake with Caramel Icing
(from my sister Melanie)

• 2 ½ c. flour
• 1 ½ c. sugar
• 1 ½ t. baking powder
• 1 t. baking soda
• ½ c. shortening
• 1 c. mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
• 2/3 c. buttermilk or sour milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 t. vanilla

Spray a 9x13 pan and preheat the oven to 350. Mix all dry ingredients. Add shortening and bananas, then milk, eggs and vanilla. Transfer to pan and bake for ½ hour or until fork in the middle comes out clean.

Icing:

• ½ c. butter or margarine
• 1 c. packed brown sugar
• ¼ c. milk
• 3 c. sifted powdered sugar

Melt butter and add sugar then cook until just boiling. Remove from heat and add milk. Beat fast with a whisk. Add powdered sugar slowly, stirring as each bit is added. Pour and spread over cake.