Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rated PG-13 (for violence, terror, some sexuality and brief strong language).

 

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is the cinematic back story to the Planet of the Apes franchise; a how-did-the-apes-become-so-human prequel to all the films that come chronologically later (but were released in the past, of course). Granted, this really is an alternative to the explanation given in an earlier version, but what the heck? This is a Grade A Grade B movie and plot consistency isn’t required.

Will Rodman (James Franco) works for a pharmaceutical company in San Francisco. He is developing a drug for Alzheimer’s. The company is testing it on chimps. One of those test subjects suddenly develops impressive, intellectual skills which means victims of Alzheimer’s might benefit from the drug; it might reverse the symptoms. Rodman decides that it is time to go from primate to human trials. While making his pitch to the board of directors, a chimp becomes dramatically violent for apparently no reason. The greedy, hard-hearted boss cancels the project and orders all the chimps be exterminated. It turns out that the chimp was just protecting her new born—however her special intelligence made her effectively dangerous. Even though the boss orders all the chimps to be killed, their keeper persuades Rodman to take the baby chimp home.

Rodman lives with his dad, Charles (John Lithgow). Sadly, Charles suffers from Alzheimer’s. Will, who is sorely disappointed about having his program (and animals) killed, decides to steal some of the medicine from the lab and experiment on his dad. Dad improves dramatically. The baby chimp doesn’t need the drug because the drug given to his mother altered his genetic composition forever…and he (Papa Charles named the chip Caesar) will pass it on to his decedents. Caesar displays impressive cognitive qualities and is able to communicate with humans via the use of sign language.

Let me interrupt here and let you know that the chap playing Caesar is Andy Serkis who also played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings franchise; fantastic performance; he “owns” this film. And while I am at it, the CGI is sharp and brilliant in both uses of the word. Thank the cinematic gods that this film isn’t in 3D. Now back to our regularly scheduled review

Of course, everything goes wrong. Dad’s progress reverses and he gets worse. Caesar plays the hero but the human world misinterprets his action and he is thrown in the simian slammer. He feels betrayed (and this betrayal breaks everyone’s heart in the audience). Caesar gets wrapped up in the injustice of the treatment of the inhabitants of the ape house…goes native…and becomes a revolutionary soldier for the SPCA (OK, I lied about the SPCA bit). Human authorities react aggressively and cruelly and soon we are all cheering for the animals to kill the humans; excellent manipulation of our loyalties Director Rupert Wyatt. Bravo!

Now, let me be clear: the chimp is genius but this film isn’t a classic. There is no moment (as was the case in the original) that makes “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” instant film history. However, there are like a hundred clever wink-wink illusions to the original that are fun to spot—especially the repetition of Charleton Heston’s most famous line from the original. No, simply put: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is gourmet popcorn for the cinematic tummy.

Pretty boy Franco is, to me, a little bland—no big surprise—he should try to emote sometimes—but Lithgow is a gem. His “Alzheimer’s” is effective, impressive, and filled with understated pathos.

The action scenes are predictable but very exciting. The way the plot plays out is as clever as it gets. To me, this is what a summer film ought to be—even though it is being released as the kids are being marched off to school.

Bottom Line: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

 I apologize for my last line—to my readers and to the chimps—in fact to all primates.

 

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” earns four and a half bow ties out of five.