Welcome to Movie Mondays, a weekly blog series that takes you on a cinematic odyssey through the world of film! Each week, we’ll dive into a list of my 100 least favorite movies, exploring what makes them fall short and discussing the lessons we can learn from their missteps. Remember that these low-ranking films are only that way based on my personal opinion. Something I hate may be something you love and no offense is intended. Wherever these movies fall for you, I invite you to grab some popcorn and join in on the debate over these films’ merits!

Jungle 2 Jungle

1997

Directed by John Pasquin

Where do I even begin with this 1997 “comedy” starring Tim Allen? Directed by John Pasquin and produced by Walt Disney Pictures, this film is a remake of the 1994 French film Un indien dans la ville (Little Indian, Big City). While the original was no masterpiece, Jungle 2 Jungle manages to take a mediocre concept and make it even worse.

The plot follows Michael Cromwell (Allen), a self-absorbed New York City commodities broker who discovers he has a 13-year-old son named Mimi-Siku (Sam Huntington in his debut) living with his ex-wife Patricia (JoBeth Williams) in the Amazon rainforest. Michael brings Mimi to New York, and hilarity is supposed to ensue as the young boy adapts to city life. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.

Tim Allen’s brand of humor falls flat throughout the film, and the supporting cast, including Martin Short as Michael’s business partner Richard Kempster, fails to elevate the material. The film relies heavily on tired stereotypes and cross-cultural misunderstandings that might have been mildly amusing in the ’90s but feel incredibly outdated and cringe-worthy today.

Jungle 2 Jungle’s attempt at a heartwarming father-son bonding story is overshadowed by its lackluster comedic elements and predictable plot. Even the presence of a young Leelee Sobieski as Richard’s daughter Karen can’t save this film from its own mediocrity.

Critics widely panned the movie upon its release, with Roger Ebert giving it a measly one star out of four, a slight improvement from the zero stars he awarded the original French film. Ebert called Jungle 2 Jungle “lamebrained, boring, predictable, long, and slow,” and his colleague Gene Siskel went as far as declaring it the worst film of 1997.

As someone who generally doesn’t enjoy Tim Allen’s comedic style (with the exceptions of Galaxy Quest and maybe the first Santa Clause movie), Jungle 2 Jungle was a painful viewing experience. The film’s attempts at humor consistently miss the mark, and the overall story fails to engage the audience on any meaningful level.

In conclusion, Jungle 2 Jungle is a prime example of an unnecessary remake that fails to improve upon its source material. With its cringe-inducing humor, flat performances, and predictable plot, this film is best left forgotten in the annals of ’90s comedy misfires.

But hey, that’s just my opinion. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Jungle 2 Jungle in the comments below. Did you find it as painfully unfunny as I did, or am I being too harsh on poor Tim Allen? Let me know!