First of all... John Favreau is the smooshiest, even when he was in Swingers - (unpopular opinion)
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Fire/Violence/Death
& an unsettlingly large monkey.
The whole cast is beautiful, just a great job all round. Except it took me ages to remember that it was in fact Giancarlo Esposito - Gus from Breaking Bad, voicing the leader of the wolf pack, being that his voice was a little more forgettable than others.
I feel that it is a bit of a step out of the blue for something from Favreau, but then again, he made the masterpiece which is Elf... as well as the unfavourable Iron Man films which I'd rather not, like y'know? Y'know... like bore off please.
So now that Favreau is getting fulling into the swing of Children films which a lot of adults care more about, then I am happy with whatever he decides to do.
I don't think there was any animal character who I didn't want to somehow cuddle, and yes I know they're all made on computers, but I can dream of cuddly animal friends can't I?
Baloo was just adorable, kudos to Bill Murray yet again for providing comic relief forever more.
Scarlett Johansson being a boring old dud in it (well not a lot new there), with her 10 lines and making them BORING AS HELL. Thank god Baloo came along. Ben Kingsley and Lupita Nyong'o are both great also, but however I feel that Idris Elba steals the show as per usual.
He shows up most of the cast by out-acting them all with his voice alone.
God bless that man.
Newcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli does a pretty great job of acting along with make-believe animals. He's got all the simple acting talents of a child acting, like he over exaggerates simple things, but on the whole he does a pretty good job, and I look forward to what else will come of him.
My main quip with Favreau's latest work is the bizarrely timed tune of 'I Want To Be Like You' from Christopher Walken playing King Louie. Maybe the fact that it's odd timing was pointed out to me before in another review is the reason why it seemed more obvious to me. Well any way, it seemed weird all round just due to the fact that King Louie is supposed to be angry at that point in the newly generated Jungle Book. but yet he's breaks into a supposedly happy song eventually making it sinister without meaning to... like John... you okay John? What's happening with Chris?
Walken anyway you don't see for a lot at all really, which I was a little sad about but then again there was nothing more than a crazy mob-like sensation with King Louie - you give me fire, I'll protect you for life Mowgli son.
Imagine Don Corleone breaking out into Singing In The Rain when making you an offer you can't refuse, and the whole Mafia family screaming crazy af.
SPOILER:
Favreau changes the whole ending, which I thought I wouldn't be happy with when it unravelled on-screen... but I'm okay with it. I know why it was done, *drum roll* that great money maker shaker that is A SEQUEL!!!!!!
One thing I will say overall is it may be in your best interests to watch it in 3D, and I never really suggest that. It was as if I was trying too hard to appreciate the graphics. I came out wishing I had waited a little longer for a quieter screening in 3D.
Overall, you will come out to cinema a very happy soul.
Now back to marathonning Kimmy Schmidt...
