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Cultures collide in this savvy Tim Allen starrer about a hyperactive commodities trader and the 13-year-old son he discovers he has fathered in the Amazon. Look for some decided improvement on the boxoffice for this Buena Vista family pleaser.

Enhancing this prospect's chances are the attractive comedic cast members, including Lolita Davidovich, JoBeth Williams and Martin Short.

Even by a big-time broker's standards, Michael's (Allen) life is complicated: He's engaged to Charlotte (Davidovich), while attempting to finalize his divorce with his ex (Williams), who, naturally, lives in the Amazon. Michael is surprised by the fact he has a child there, the winsome Mimi-Siku (Sam Huntington), whose tribal bents are a befuddlement to his surprise dad. Laying their yarn with a cultural anthropologist's insight and juicing it with slapstick, screenwriters Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon have concocted a pleasing delight. There is plenty of squirrely humor in the scenario, and the characters are very sympathetic, particularly Allen's, whose decent hyperactivity is a visual highlight.

Special praise also to Short for his performance as Michael's antic partner. Similarly, Davidovich is aptly alluring as Michael's fiancee, while Williams is properly independent as Michael's heady ex-wife. Huntington will likely lure young female appeal for his perky performance as the jungle boy.

Director John Pasquin infuses the hilarity with an apt mix of tenderness and wackiness. The technical contributions are well-suited all across the board, particularly cinematographer Tony Pierce-Roberts' glowing hues and costume designer Carol Ramsey's wacky duds. Similar kudos for composer Michael Convertino's spirited, splashy score.

JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE

Buena Vista

Walt Disney Pictures

and TFI International present

Producer Brian Reilly

Director John Pasquin

Screenwriters Bruce A. Evans, Raynold Gideon

Based on "Un Indien Dans La Ville" by

Herve Palud, Thierry Lhermitte, Igor Aptekman, Philippe Bruneau de la Salle

Executive producers Rick Baker, Rick Messina, Brad Krevoy

Co-producer William W. Wilson III

Associate producers Thierry Lhermitte,

Louis Becker

Director of photography Tony Pierce-Roberts

Production designer Stuart Wurtzel

Editor Michael A. Stevenson

Costume designer Carol Ramsey

Music Michael Convertino

Casting Renee Rousselot

Associate producers Kimberly Brent,

Bruce Economou

Sound mixer Allan Byer

Color/stereo

Cast:

Michael Tim Allen

Mimi-Siku Sam Huntington

Patricia JoBeth Williams

Charlotte Lolita Davidovich

Richard Martin Short

Jan Valerie Mahaffey

Karen LeeLee Sobiesky

Andrew Franki Galasso

Running time -- 111 minutes

MPAA rating: PG...