Call me sad.. I am a 16 year old who actively spends hours around the TV watching the Disney channel with my sister. A lot of it is entertaining, however this was most boring piece of junk I have seen since... I am sorry.. I cannot think of anything less entertaining.. I will break it down: A boy and a monkey, and how the monkey brings a family closer together. By the end of the movie, I didn't feel anything. No emotion.. The monkey could have been shot ten times with a tranq gun, and brought to the middle of the India where they eat monkeys; only to have the little boy run around for another hour trying to collect random body parts from the local merchants.. I wouldn't have shed a tear. Actually I was kind of hoping that would happen. I apologize to the soccer moms out there who are reading this, but it needs to be said.. To the Disney Executives who might come across this: If you are going to do a movie with a bad plot, get some hot women in it.. Please, for the demographic percentage of single 14-16 year old boys who are forced to watch Disney because of their younger siblings.. Hot women... Please... Thank you. :)
7 Reviews
Boring film only for children
Mart-131 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
My own note: * The review does not contain outright spoilers, but there's enough spoiler material to mark it as such, because of a telling reference in the last paragraph. *
I only just happened to see this film -- luckily, not in its entirety and I wonder if it's my adult age or many-many boring kiddie films that I have come to generally dislike this genre (with many exceptions, such as "Mrs. Doubtfire").
"Made for TV" usually says it all: boring acting and actors, directing and execution, character conflict that is not believable, the plot changes very slowly and/or the film's pace is slow as molasses. Adding to that is the fact that the plot setting takes place in a very comfy-comfy suburban environment which is quite specific to North America.
In this day and age of knowing how most films end in a satisfactory manner, and while this suburbanite milieu may serve well some other films and series ("Desperate Housewives" being a great example), in here it seemed to make a notable disservice, adding to the TV-watching boredom.
Before writing my review, I learned from here that there was a way better book published on the subject matter. I thought then, that the paper publication had to be better. I guess the idea was heavily watered down by decision-makers.
This film aired May Day (01.05.), which is a national Spring Holiday in Estonia. It was given a late morning time-slot that seems suitable for small kids.
I couldn't care to watch it till the end, so I changed channels to watch a better-rated "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron", which is also a kiddie-film, but more watchable. Alas, there was nothing better to watch anyway, so I finally switched the TV set off. Of other kiddie-films, "Baby Geniuses" was also better than what this review is about.
I remembered a 1980's film about a chimpanzee who could also speak sign language and who was also befriended by a kid (the kid was notably older and not a small child anymore) and the film was about many chimpanzees and about experiments to be done to them... Of course, that ended well, too, but I just can't remember that film's title.
I only just happened to see this film -- luckily, not in its entirety and I wonder if it's my adult age or many-many boring kiddie films that I have come to generally dislike this genre (with many exceptions, such as "Mrs. Doubtfire").
"Made for TV" usually says it all: boring acting and actors, directing and execution, character conflict that is not believable, the plot changes very slowly and/or the film's pace is slow as molasses. Adding to that is the fact that the plot setting takes place in a very comfy-comfy suburban environment which is quite specific to North America.
In this day and age of knowing how most films end in a satisfactory manner, and while this suburbanite milieu may serve well some other films and series ("Desperate Housewives" being a great example), in here it seemed to make a notable disservice, adding to the TV-watching boredom.
Before writing my review, I learned from here that there was a way better book published on the subject matter. I thought then, that the paper publication had to be better. I guess the idea was heavily watered down by decision-makers.
This film aired May Day (01.05.), which is a national Spring Holiday in Estonia. It was given a late morning time-slot that seems suitable for small kids.
I couldn't care to watch it till the end, so I changed channels to watch a better-rated "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron", which is also a kiddie-film, but more watchable. Alas, there was nothing better to watch anyway, so I finally switched the TV set off. Of other kiddie-films, "Baby Geniuses" was also better than what this review is about.
I remembered a 1980's film about a chimpanzee who could also speak sign language and who was also befriended by a kid (the kid was notably older and not a small child anymore) and the film was about many chimpanzees and about experiments to be done to them... Of course, that ended well, too, but I just can't remember that film's title.
A movie to be determined by thought
chrishewittpiano1 December 2002
This Disney Channel Original Movie premiered on July 13th, 2001. It is a story about a young chimp named Jennie that was brought back from Africa. The chimpanzee stays at the house of the Archibald's and they come upon some problems that the story deals with. I would have to say that there was no real drama in this movie, and not a comedy. The cast is very small, unlike some movies. There are very few witty parts, but the story is a little touching. Since it is a Disney Original movie, they do not deal with detailed descriptions and backgrounds of all the characters, let alone a little inside of them so that you know what to expect out of them.
For some people, this could be a nice movie that you would want to watch and learn about, but for me, however, I did not find it all that terrific or brilliant. It was however, well done. For the characters, the father, Hugo Archibald, played by Lance Guest, was a smart and passionate person that is committed to whatever he has said. He is forthright and stern at some points and looks after his son, Andrew, and his daughter, Sarah. The mother, Leah, played by Sheila Kelley, was very typical in what she was doing. There was nothing special about the character in this movie. Like I have mentioned, Andrew, the misunderstood in a way son is played by Alex Linz. This was before he had done "Max Keeble's Big Move". He has said to have liked working with animals, which in both movies he has. The acting of young Alex was done well but could have been more dramatic and sensitively. And finally, Sarah, played by Abigail Mavity, was a young little sister in this movie. She did a pretty good job, but like the mother, just had to be in the movie to make the movie what is was. The one thing that could have made this movie better is to have a more in depth plot and more of a story behind it. The Disney Channel shows this movie probably twice a year, so if you ever hear about it you should check it out and see if you agree with me on my reasonings. There were pros and cons to this movie, but I guess you just have to see it to believe it. In the overall total, I give this a 7.5 out of 10. But it is worth seeing once or twice.
For some people, this could be a nice movie that you would want to watch and learn about, but for me, however, I did not find it all that terrific or brilliant. It was however, well done. For the characters, the father, Hugo Archibald, played by Lance Guest, was a smart and passionate person that is committed to whatever he has said. He is forthright and stern at some points and looks after his son, Andrew, and his daughter, Sarah. The mother, Leah, played by Sheila Kelley, was very typical in what she was doing. There was nothing special about the character in this movie. Like I have mentioned, Andrew, the misunderstood in a way son is played by Alex Linz. This was before he had done "Max Keeble's Big Move". He has said to have liked working with animals, which in both movies he has. The acting of young Alex was done well but could have been more dramatic and sensitively. And finally, Sarah, played by Abigail Mavity, was a young little sister in this movie. She did a pretty good job, but like the mother, just had to be in the movie to make the movie what is was. The one thing that could have made this movie better is to have a more in depth plot and more of a story behind it. The Disney Channel shows this movie probably twice a year, so if you ever hear about it you should check it out and see if you agree with me on my reasonings. There were pros and cons to this movie, but I guess you just have to see it to believe it. In the overall total, I give this a 7.5 out of 10. But it is worth seeing once or twice.
The book was excellent.
rykskelton12 February 2005
I just finished reading the book "Jennie" by Douglas Preston and thought "This would make a great movie". Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to double check Douglas Preston's name on IMDb and lo and behold, there already was a movie.
Sadly, after reading the reviews posted here, I can see that the movie hasn't taken any of what was presented in the book at all. In fact, many of the names have changed and the fact that the main character in the book, Jennie, was not mentioned in any of the reviews is cause enough to realise Disney certainly did a disservice to this wonderful book.
The book is slow to start with, but it certainly is plot driven and builds to a shocking climax. The last 30 pages were read through tear-filled eyes.
Read the book. It's the best one I've read in over two years, and I read about 50 a year. "Inspirational", "amazing", "moving", "thought provoking".
From reading the other reviews, it just goes to show that Hollywood (or Disney) can truly destroy an originally creative idea.
Sadly, after reading the reviews posted here, I can see that the movie hasn't taken any of what was presented in the book at all. In fact, many of the names have changed and the fact that the main character in the book, Jennie, was not mentioned in any of the reviews is cause enough to realise Disney certainly did a disservice to this wonderful book.
The book is slow to start with, but it certainly is plot driven and builds to a shocking climax. The last 30 pages were read through tear-filled eyes.
Read the book. It's the best one I've read in over two years, and I read about 50 a year. "Inspirational", "amazing", "moving", "thought provoking".
From reading the other reviews, it just goes to show that Hollywood (or Disney) can truly destroy an originally creative idea.
good story
hjc10118916 July 2002
I personally enjoyed the Jennie project. I thought it got a little bit slow at times, but it fit together nicely. Alex D. Linz gave an exceptional performance for his age. It's deffinately a movie that kids would enjoy, as well as the rest of the family. It's a movie that doesn't forget that there are adults in the audience.I thought this movie was well done, and had some very cute moments.
GRRREAT ACTORS< OKAY MOVIE
Richgurl9074 September 2001
This movie was Okay, but the actors were great. Alex Linz is one of my favorite young actors. He did great! Abigail Mavity was good too. Lance Guest was great! You gotta see them. This movie is really stupid, but the actors and actresses made the movie a WWWWWWWWWWWWHHHOOOLLLLLEEEEE lot better!!!!!
A good movie for little kids
PixiStik16874 August 2001
This is a good movie for the 8-11 age group. It is not a movie the whole family can enjoy. It is about a chimp that speaks, and basically all it is is the troubles the chimp gets into. And, it can get boring at some parts. I would give it a 2/5.
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