AVAILABLE AT AMAZON FROM $19.99 ON JUNE 17TH.

Disney animation was, long ago, the Pixar of entertainment. Every new feature was a perfect storm of inventive scripts, engaging voice work, and gorgeous, hand-drawn masterpieces. It’s hard to see Disney animation now, after so many years, reduced to producing only cheap and unwanted sequels to the jewels of their former glory. How sad.

In the tradition of ridiculously inappropriate sequels like CINDERELLA 2 and BAMBI 2, Disney has provided us with another trip into the jungle with the release of THE JUNGLE BOOK 2. The film picks up where the 1967 original left Mowgli and company. Now living with humans, Mowgli still dreams of his fun days in the jungle, dancing and singing with his friends Baloo and Bagheera. Soon, Mowgli and his new friends Shanti and Ranjan find themselves in danger from the return of the relentless tiger Shere Khan.

The script for this film might be one of the most padded screenplays ever produced. There is almost no story to speak of here, the running time filled with odd incident rather than plot devlopment. The first twenty minutes consists largely of the kids playing practical jokes on one another, which quickly grows tiresome. Even the songs, which were one of the strongest parts of the original film, here seem stale and uninspired. When the best song is a reprise of BARE NECESSITIES, you know you’re in creative trouble

The animation, however, is spectacular. There is something special about hand-drawn animation; it is the magical capture of reality with art. Here, the backdrops are vivid and breathtaking, and the character animation is fun and inventive. It’s unfortunate that Disney does not employ this kind of artistry to a new story worth telling, rather than a cheap, frivolous rehash of an original classic.

The voice talent is effective at recapturing the iconic voices of the previous film. Especially good is JOHN GOODMAN as the voice of Baloo, memorably brought to life by PHIL HARRIS in the ‘67 film.

With films like this, it is sadly apparent that Disney either needs to come up with a fresh, new original animated film, or hang up their pens and brushes for good. The medium is too expensive and too beautiful to waste on pointless junk like this.

EXTRAS

This is a special edition??? All that is included here are several interactive games for kids, a few music videos from the movie, and a couple of deleted scenes. The only thing special about this disc is the enormous number of previews for other Disney films at the beginning, which is truly annoying. BOO, Disney!!! BOOO!!!!

OVERALL

Pointless film, packaged badly. They just want your money … do you really think you should give it to them for this??