Congo (D+ or 1.5/4 stars)
In real life, Gorillas cannot speak, but they sure can in director Frank Marshall's 1995 summer sci-fi blockbuster, 'Congo'. Banking off the success of Jurassic Park & Rising Sun - both Michael Crichton adaptations - 'Congo' aims to be another action flick that strikes with both critics & audiences. Welllll. To that, sure it made good $$, but nothing like JP; and the critical response ... horrific. 'Congo' simply doesn't cut it. A group of scientists take-off on a safari deep into the war-torn heart of the Congo. First, we have overanxious Dr. Karen Ross (Laura Linney, what is she DOING in this film?), an ex-CIA agent currently working for a large communications corporation. There is also Dr. Peter Elliot (Dylan Walsh), a keen primate expert.
There's Herkermer Homolka (Tim Curry, hamming it up, big time), an odd man with a peculiar Romanian accent. Monroe Kelly (Ernie Hudson) is a guide who knows all the short cuts. And finally, there's Amy, Dr. Elliot's student - a female gorilla. Each member of this quest has a differing reason for coming along. Dr. Ross is searching for her missing ex-fiance (Bruce Campbell) & the experimental laser gun he had in his possession when he suddenly disappeared. Homolka is looking for the Lost City of Zinj, which hides King Solomon's diamond mines. And Dr. Elliot is trying to remedy Amy's homesickness by returning her to her homeland. This group braves a plethora of dangers, including a poisonous snake, guerilla warfare, erupting volcanoes, & attacks by some hungry, hungry hippos. And yet, none of this preps them for their greatest obstacle: a troop of vicious killer apes that make King Kong look like a teddy bear. Bloody chaos ensues.
'Congo' was never going to have the same success of Jurassic Park, no matter what, because murderous gorillas simply don't hold the same fascination as prehistoric dinosaurs and, the fact that they're also running around AS humans in ape suits makes it all the more laughable. Furthermore, John Patrick Shanley's script doesn't take the already-loony material {a technological advance that would allow gorillas to speak via data glove/sensors/computer on her back pack} to another level; and director Frank Marshall ain't no Steven Spielberg. The 1st 1/2 of this lengthy film is overloaded with exposition, yet lacks character development. In fact, gorilla Amy has more personality than the humans {and she's a creation of Stan Winston's creature workshop}.
The fiery climax features some impressive, well-orchestrated stunts & special effects, but marred by action/adventure movie cliches left & right. Laura Linney tries hard to make something out of her character -- a strong-willed, capable, female Indiana Jones, of sorts. Ernie Hudson is enjoyable to watch. But Dylan Walsh barely registers as Amy's keeper. And Tim Curry, God bless him, is his usual asinine self, ha. He's very entertaining, but his accent & his actions are mind-bogglingly over-the-top. Congo's greatest asset is that it is a brainless, if harmless summer actioner. But plot incidentals are so ludicrous, so ridiculous, and it just so thoroughly pales to anything that Jurassic Park or any other half-decent action/adventure movie can offer.
There's Herkermer Homolka (Tim Curry, hamming it up, big time), an odd man with a peculiar Romanian accent. Monroe Kelly (Ernie Hudson) is a guide who knows all the short cuts. And finally, there's Amy, Dr. Elliot's student - a female gorilla. Each member of this quest has a differing reason for coming along. Dr. Ross is searching for her missing ex-fiance (Bruce Campbell) & the experimental laser gun he had in his possession when he suddenly disappeared. Homolka is looking for the Lost City of Zinj, which hides King Solomon's diamond mines. And Dr. Elliot is trying to remedy Amy's homesickness by returning her to her homeland. This group braves a plethora of dangers, including a poisonous snake, guerilla warfare, erupting volcanoes, & attacks by some hungry, hungry hippos. And yet, none of this preps them for their greatest obstacle: a troop of vicious killer apes that make King Kong look like a teddy bear. Bloody chaos ensues.
'Congo' was never going to have the same success of Jurassic Park, no matter what, because murderous gorillas simply don't hold the same fascination as prehistoric dinosaurs and, the fact that they're also running around AS humans in ape suits makes it all the more laughable. Furthermore, John Patrick Shanley's script doesn't take the already-loony material {a technological advance that would allow gorillas to speak via data glove/sensors/computer on her back pack} to another level; and director Frank Marshall ain't no Steven Spielberg. The 1st 1/2 of this lengthy film is overloaded with exposition, yet lacks character development. In fact, gorilla Amy has more personality than the humans {and she's a creation of Stan Winston's creature workshop}.
The fiery climax features some impressive, well-orchestrated stunts & special effects, but marred by action/adventure movie cliches left & right. Laura Linney tries hard to make something out of her character -- a strong-willed, capable, female Indiana Jones, of sorts. Ernie Hudson is enjoyable to watch. But Dylan Walsh barely registers as Amy's keeper. And Tim Curry, God bless him, is his usual asinine self, ha. He's very entertaining, but his accent & his actions are mind-bogglingly over-the-top. Congo's greatest asset is that it is a brainless, if harmless summer actioner. But plot incidentals are so ludicrous, so ridiculous, and it just so thoroughly pales to anything that Jurassic Park or any other half-decent action/adventure movie can offer.