The Mighty Kong

One can't help but raise an eyebrow at the curious concoction that is The Mighty Kong. On paper, it boasts a pedigree ripe for cineastic fireworks: the legendary vocal talents of Dudley Moore tackling both the bombastic filmmaker Carl Denham and the mighty ape himself, and a score courtesy of the Sherman Brothers, the musical masterminds behind Mary Poppins. Anticipation soars.

But then the film flickers to life, and reality crashes down with the weight of a poorly animated steamship. The Mighty Kong suffers from a case of severe budgetary anemia. The animation is a far cry from Disney's polished perfection, with characters that jerk around the screen and faces that morph uncomfortably with every expression.

The narrative, too, is a predictable beast, a rote rehash of the classic King Kong tale with a Beauty and the Beast garnish thrown in for good measure. Thankfully, the damsel in distress avoids the typical demise this time around. There's even a shoehorned-in child sidekick, a desperate attempt to lure the younger set, that feels as unnecessary as a monocle on a clown.

Despite these shortcomings, The Mighty Kong isn't entirely without charm. The period setting offers a certain nostalgic appeal, and the sheer audacity of Moore's dual role (executed with varying degrees of success, it must be said) is undeniably intriguing. The Sherman Brothers' score, while not their strongest work, provides a few toe-tapping moments.

Ultimately, The Mighty Kong is a cinematic oddity - a lo-fi lullaby to a classic tale. It might hold some appeal for die-hard Kong enthusiasts or those with a penchant for delightfully strange films. But for most viewers, this ape will likely leave them scratching their heads and yearning for the mighty original.

Fresno Bee ".… Oscar -winning salute to the Great Ape." Reel Guide "… a lighthearted romp for families with delightful tunes, appealing vocal performances. Audiences rate a 10 for family appeal." Fort Worth Star Telegram "This is a great family movie that everyone will enjoy." Daily Tribune "This animated adaption literally brings the house down." The New York Times "… a spectacular feature film." Ventura County Reporter "… this handsomely animated feature…. sure to entertain kids of all ages." Gary Post Tribune "… an underlying moral thread… the beast and his story have meaning." New Orleans Times Picayune "True to the original - only it's kid friendly." School to Work News "… the classic story of beauty and the beast is sure to become a favorite that will entertain the whole family."

20 weeks on Billboard's Top Kid Video sales.

This film has everything that kids could want...a fun musical score and enough action to hold their interest. In these days of even G rated films containing questionable scenes/language, its a relief to see something that is safe and fun.

THE MIGHTY KONG is one of those kid's musicals that had a lot of potential but did not make a big splash. I don't even know anyone with kids who bought this video for them and I don't know any kids who have even heard of it! I liked the musical numbers and I liked the period setting. My favorite scene is Ann Darrow's debut musical number in "Carl Denham's Electrifying Mystifying Wild Animal Follies".

Carl Denham's character was nothing like the one in the original 1933 film, and his film crew was portrayed as being totally inept. What do kids learn from stuff like this? That documentary filmmakers are clumsy idiots? Why do filmmakers make themselves look bad in their own movies? I wish someone would answer this question for me.

The little monkey mascot on board the ship heading to Skull Island was OK, but the cabin boy served no purpose and would not have been needed on a small steamer like the one being used. He was your typical "we gotta put a kid in this movie so that the kids can relate to it" character. Nonsense. Kids can enjoy movies that don't have other kids in them.

Then, when the filmmakers actually make landfall on Skull Island, the plot really begins to unravel and many subplots are basically thrown away.

Show your kid the original KING KONG made by RKO 70 years ago.

The Sherman Brothers (THE TIGGER MOVIE, MARY POPPINS, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, CHARLOTTE'S WEB) provide a terrifically witty score for this musical retelling of the King Kong story. I had the opportunity of seeing this film in a theatre when it first opened in 1998 and the audience actually laughed out loud at some of the lyrical humor. The ballad, "I've Known You All My Life" is beautiful and may one day be thought of as a classic! Dudley Moore's vocal portrayal of C.B.Denham was terrific-- sadly, it may have been his final performance. He sings in the film as does Jodi Benson (ALADDIN).