Richard Crouse

There is a cinematic truth that states that all baby animals are cute. Which means that it is virtually impossible to dislike a movie that features an infant animal, no matter what the species, in a leading role. “Chimpanzee,” starring Oscar, a newborn primate, amps up the cute factor but is that enough to make a good movie.

The latest in the Disneynature Earth Day documentaries is the story of Oscar, an African chimpanzee born into a troop led by alpha male Freddy. When a rival troop attacks Oscar’s mother goes missing, leaving him orphaned. As the days and weeks pass Oscar, still too young to fend for himself, must find a mentor or he may not survive.

First, the good stuff. The cute factor is ramped way up in ”

There is a cinematic truth that states that all baby animals are cute. Which means that it is virtually impossible to dislike a movie that features an infant animal, no matter what the species, in a leading role. “Chimpanzee,” starring Oscar, a newborn primate, amps up the cute factor but is that enough to make a good movie.

The latest in the Disneynature Earth Day documentaries is the story of Oscar, an African chimpanzee born into a troop led by alpha male Freddy. When a rival troop attacks Oscar’s mother goes missing, leaving him orphaned. As the days and weeks pass Oscar, still too young to fend for himself, must find a mentor or he may not survive.

First, the good stuff. The cute factor is ramped way up in “Chimpanzee.” Long scenes of Oscar trying to crack a nut with a rock are adorable (even if they start to feel like indulgent chimp home movies after a while.) The photography is spectacular, featuring time lapse–like a cool sequence of a spider weaving a web–and beautiful, intimate images of the chimps, illustrating their intelligence and lifestyle. Also the movie certainly has its heart in the right place. For every ticket sold Disneynature will donate money to co-producer Jane Goodall’s Institute.

So far, so good.

Unfortunately cute babies and good intentions do not a great movie make. The main problem isn’t the photography, it’s the footage and the narration. The footage–shot on location over the course of three years by co-directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield in the tropical jungles of the Ivory Coast and Uganda–is great looking but the process it putting it to together has resulted in a film that feels padded, held together with lame narration that detracts from the images in screen.

“It’s always good to add a little fiber to your diet,” says narrator Tim Allen over a shot of a chimp eating a leaf. “How about a side salad?”

There are some nice movie moments–shots of Oscar bonding with his mom are touching, a scene of Oscar’s education in the fine art of ant lollipop making is funny and a Sharks vs Jets showdown in the jungle is exciting–but the rest is simple nature photography. Too little actual story to justify the slight 80 running time.

Having said that, Oscar is a cutie and the film will benefit the chimps at the Jane Goodall Institute, it’s just too bad you can’t press the mute button on the narration.

” Long scenes of Oscar trying to crack a nut with a rock are adorable (even if they start to feel like indulgent chimp home movies after a while.) The photography is spectacular, featuring time lapse–like a cool sequence of a spider weaving a web–and beautiful, intimate images of the chimps, illustrating their intelligence and lifestyle. Also the movie certainly has its heart in the right place. For every ticket sold Disneynature will donate money to co-producer Jane Goodall’s Institute.

So far, so good.

Unfortunately cute babies and good intentions do not a great movie make. The main problem isn’t the photography, it’s the footage and the narration. The footage–shot on location over the course of three years by co-directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield in the tropical jungles of the Ivory Coast and Uganda–is great looking but the process it putting it to together has resulted in a film that feels padded, held together with lame narration that detracts from the images in screen.

“It’s always good to add a little fiber to your diet,” says narrator Tim Allen over a shot of a chimp eating a leaf. “How about a side salad?”

There are some nice movie moments–shots of Oscar bonding with his mom are touching, a scene of Oscar’s education in the fine art of ant lollipop making is funny and a Sharks vs Jets showdown in the jungle is exciting–but the rest is simple nature photography. Too little actual story to justify the slight 80 running time.

Having said that, Oscar is a cutie and the film will benefit the chimps at the Jane Goodall Institute, it’s just too bad you can’t press the mute button on the narration.