Review of Chimpanzee (2012) by Thomas W — 13 Sep 2012

Disneynature dives deep into the wild forests of Africa for their latest (voiced-over with spin) True Life Adventure documentary, Chimpanzee. If one does not enjoy observing nature, than Chimpanzee is NOT a movie for him/her.

Disneynature has now tackled a couple of films for a niche audience, and Chimpanzee does the same with this much-respected member of the animal kingdom that is quite closely related to the human being.

Chimpanzee is put together by using hours of compiled documentary footage with a simple voice over by Tim Allen (Toy Story 1-3, Galaxy Quest, The Santa Clause films) who helps create a narrative for the film (so what we see is real although the narration embellishes the action).

The film begins by following a community chimpanzees (complete with the Alpha male, the mothers and babies and other supporting males) as they trek their "territory" in search of vital food -- be that nuts, fruit or even meat (!).

The film provides a fictional narration -- most likely to keep the interest of a younger audience -- but it also provides much insight into the lives of chimpanzees (as I had NO idea they hunted meat).

The young chimpanzee at the heart of the film has been named Oscar and the film follows him through some rough Disney times (remember that the situations are ALL real and so sensitive, gentle-hearted viewers might require a few tissue for their sniffles).

There are parts here that I did not want to see; but one cannot sugar-coat nature and the film-as-a-whole informs. After seeing another 2012 documentary film, Project Nim -- about a chimpanzee that was initially brought-up as a human child in a posh 1980's NYC apartment building as a social/behavioral experiment but later abandoned as man realized his folly of trying to tame a wild beast -- it is nice seeing this contrast with a chimpanzee brought up as nature intends.

Where Project Nim was ultimately heartbreaking because of humanity's lack of humanity, Chimpanzee allows for a chimp to be a chimp where they take care of their own. They begin as adorable creatures (Oscar and Nim make you melt!) and as they grow they should command respect.

Not everyone will; but not everyone appreciates nature.