3 Ups & 7 Downs From The Legend Of Tarzan
Tarzan Begins.
The Legend Of Tarzan has landed in cinemas with a fairly understated marketing campaign and low level of hype, possibly stung by a lukewarm reception to the earlier trailers and a bundle of unnerving stories about the film's troubled post-production history.
Unsurprisingly, despite a surprisingly solid box office opening, critics have piled on the end product, with most agreeing that Harry Potter vet David Yates hasn't delivered the franchise-starter Warner Bros. were doubtless hoping for.
It's certainly not among the year's worst films as many feared, nor is it the pleasant surprise everyone hoped it would be. It is a watchable effort you're best off saving for Netflix, because despite its monstrous budget, this one lacks the magical touch you'd hope for from such a massive production.
Here are 3 ups and 7 downs from The Legend Of Tarzan...
Ups:3. Samuel L. Jackson Steals The Show
Though the film does waste the majority of the cast, there's one actor who just barely manages to overcome the dull script, and that's Samuel L. Jackson.
As the bada**, older sidekick character, he's as close as the film ever gets to being fun: Jackson looks like he's having a blast, and frankly he's much more interesting than the actual protagonist.
Jackson's sheer personality can make almost anything relatively watchable, and such is the case here: it's not that most of his one-liners hit the mark, but that his enthusiasm is infectious and gives the film a much-needed energy and charisma boost.