Congo


3/4

Starring: Laura Linney, Dylan Walsh, Ernie Hudson, Tim Curry, Grant Heslov, Joe Don Baker

Rated PG-13 for Jungle Adventure Terror and Action and Brief Strong Language

In all honesty, “Congo” was a casualty of unrealistic expectations.  After “Jurassic Park” became a mega-hit, Hollywood rushed to turn Michael Crichton’s books into movies as quickly as possible.  The next big-budget actioner (after “Disclosure” and “Rising Sun,” which were thrillers on a much smaller scale) from Crichton’s novels was “Congo,” a jungle adventure.  No matter how good it was, it could never have met the expectations of the audience.  It’s a shame, really, because as a jungle adventure, it’s a lot of fun.

Dr. Karen Ross (Linney) is a communications specialist working for a company called TraviCom.  TraviCom has sent an expedition into the Congo to retrieve a rare diamond that will revolutionize the communications industry.  Unfortunately, communication with the field team was suddenly, and perhaps violently, cut off, so Ross is sent in to find out what happened.  To that end, she teams up with a pair of primatologists, Dr. Peter Elliot (Walsh) and his assistant, Richard (Heslov).  Peter and Richard are going to return their sign-language-speaking gorilla, Amy, to the Congo in the hopes that she will teach the wild apes to speak sign.  What they uncover is something that may just cost them all their lives.

Not only does this contain a number of thrilling action sequences, it’s also quite funny.  John Patrick Shanley’s script is loaded with offbeat humor, much of which is provided by Monroe Kelly (Hudson), their ever-so-slick guide.  He’s never without a snide comment or drawling sarcasm.  Hudson is delicious in the role, although he is far from the most outrageous character in the film.  That distinction belongs to Tim Curry, who is at his loopy best playing the “Romanian philanthropist” Herkemer Homolka.  Homolka is obsessed with finding the lost city of Zinj, which is said to be overflowing with very large, shiny rocks.  Every time Curry speaks, you can almost see diamonds sparkle in his eyes.

The other actors are effective as well.  Laura Linney and Dylan Walsh, despite being capable actors in their own right, are probably the least likely people one would imagine in this sort of movie, and that’s precisely why they work.  Linney is terrific as the scientist who, as her companions learn, has more than a few secrets.  And Dylan Walsh is great as the meek scientist; he’s in over his head…and he knows it.  Grant Heslov and Joe Don Baker (as Ross’s megalomaniacal boss) are great in their supporting roles.  Bruce Campbell and Joe Pantoliano appear in cameos as well.

“Congo” has all the ingredients for a brilliant adventure flick, except there’s one problem: the apes.  None of the apes look convincing.  Amy is okay, but it doesn’t take an astute viewer to realize that it’s an actor (actually, two actresses) in a suit.  The evil gray apes fair even worse.  They’re supposed to be violent and scary, but the truth of the matter is that they look sickly and deformed.  Their movements are especially unconvincing.

Still, I admit without a shred of guilt that “Congo” is a lot of fun, especially for those who have an affection for a long lost genre.

Note: Be warned, however.  There is a surprising amount of gore in the film, especially for a PG-13 movie.  There are numerous dismemberments and a disembodied eyeball shown in all their gory glory, making the PG-13 rating a big stretch.

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