Tarzan (1999)

88% of critics liked it
(102 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(338,787 ratings)

Author Edgar Rice Burroughs once suggested that animation would be the ideal medium to bring his Tarzan to the screen, and 81 years after the first film about the famous ape-man, Disney brings us the first full-length animated film starring the King of the Jungle. After a disaster at sea causes… More Author Edgar Rice Burroughs once suggested that animation would be the ideal medium to bring his Tarzan to the screen, and 81 years after the first film about the famous ape-man, Disney brings us the first full-length animated film starring the King of the Jungle. After a disaster at sea causes their ship to sink off the coast of Africa, a British couple finds their way to shore with their infant son in tow. However, the parents are killed by a leopard, leaving the baby to fend for himself. The child is discovered by a gorilla named Kala (voice of Glenn Close), mate of Kerchak (voice of Lance Henriksen), the leader of the tribe of apes. While Kerchak is taken aback by the foundling and would just as soon leave him in the jungle, Kala's maternal nature is stirred. Kala and Kerchak take the baby with them, naming him Tarzan and raising him among their own. Although Tarzan (voice of Tony Goldwyn) grows up painfully aware that he's different from the apes, he comes to love and respect the gorillas and learns their ways, while they accept him into their tribe as he grows to adulthood. However, Tarzan's idyllic life in the jungle is changed forever by the arrival of Professor Porter (voice of Nigel Hawthorne), his daughter Jane (voice of Minnie Driver), and their guide, a hunter named Clayton (voice of Brian Blessed). The Professor and Jane have arrived in Africa to study the wildlife in its natural habitat, although Clayton would prefer to bag as many trophies as he can. When the explorers encounter Tarzan, they at first think they've discovered the missing link, although soon realize that he's as human as they are. Tarzan finds himself torn between his desire to be with his own kind (and the new, unfamiliar emotions that he feels for Jane) and his loyalties to the gorilla family that raised him -- especially since Clayton sees the apes not as friends but as prey. Dominated by fast-paced jungle action sequences, Tarzan also features voices by Rosie O'Donnell and Wayne Knight, as well as new songs by Phil Collins. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Kevin Lima, Chris Buck (II)
Written By: Tab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker, Noni White
Genres: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 16, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Jan 1, 2000
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
The stylized physiques and movements of the characters in this exciting animated musical-romance-adventure are at once realist and fantastic.
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
Simply a smashingly well-done example of animated storytelling.
Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It's both a little scary and a lot funny, and kids will no doubt lap it up.
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
So far, the most entertaining film of the year.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Travels light, moves quickly and leaves very little in its wake.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Minnie Driver gives Jane a throaty, teasing allure that suggests nights in the jungle won't be Disney dull for the T-man.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Kids will be drawn to Disney's fast-paced version.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
The most legitimately touching Disney feature of the 1990s.
Annlee Ellingson, Boxoffice Magazine
Just as Disney animation has become increasingly impressive, so have Disney animated films become increasingly adult.
Jon Fortgang, Film4
Highly enjoyable, great looking animated adventure that combines its touching storyline with plenty of wit and style.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
A splendid, eye-filling adventure that harkens back in many ways to the 1967 animated version of The Jungle Book.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
No classic, but very enjoyable.
Chris Gore, Film Threat
There is not one frame of this film that I would change.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
The screenplay ... hews closely to the tried and true format of previous Disney winners, but allows room for more free-form action, and this benefits the movie.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
A technical marvel from Disney that shrewdly compresses and streamlines the Disney formula into a more efficient whole.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
An exciting, accomplished work that ranks with the wonderful Johnny Weissmuller movies.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...hardly the must-have disc of the year in terms of bonus features, but...Tarzan is a pleasure on the eyes. (Special Edition DVD)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...one of Disney's most beautiful, most spectacular visual treats, even if the story line and characters are watered-down children's fare.
Joshua Tyler, CinemaBlend.com
This disc is a desperate plea for cash from Disney.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
this film had its own Jar Jar Binks to deal with: Rosie O'Donnell

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Michael M

the final film of disneys renaissance era. It was a good way to end it.
Alexander D

It's okayâ?¦
Manu G

An immortal legend. As you've only imagined. Fantastic Disney Movie! A great tale that was made with magic and heart. Great story and learning to all kids. This is an excellent film, it moves right along fast, has great characters, action, voice, music is just right, great… More
An immortal legend. As you've only imagined. Fantastic Disney Movie! A great tale that was made with magic and heart. Great story and learning to all kids. This is an excellent film, it moves right along fast, has great characters, action, voice, music is just right, great animation, you name it. Lives up to the Tarzan heritage and then some. Highly recommended for everyone. The movie is about the life of Tarzan. Tarzan was a small orphan who was raised by an ape named Kala since he was a child. He believed that this was his family, but on an expedition Jane Porter is rescued by Tarzan. He then finds out that he's human. Now Tarzan must make the decision as to which family he should belong to...
Bethany M

Again another childhood favourite and classic!
Thomas B

Walt would be proud. Full review later.
Brad W

Why anyone would dislike this disney classic is beyond me. It has a great moral, a wonderful plot, but my one small problem is that Kerchak scared me as a kid, they could have made him nicer.
Michael E

Though this Disney film seems to be under a lot of peoples radar it still is a wonderful Disney film and the music adds to the films greatness. The actors were also very good picks.
Chris W

This is one of those movies where (for me) Disney began to slip, and was starting to show some wear and tear. It's by no means bad, but I just can't really get into it. Maybe I just don't like the style or the overabundance of Phil Collins.
Richard C

F
erika b

really good plot and music
KJ P

I loved the story, and the great feeling! I have nothing wrong with this epic kids film!
Anthony L

Poo. Not quite the death of Disney though unfortunately!
danny d

done very well with a great story. the red elephant was strange, but the movie was fun to watch and the music was great.
Dan S

Liked it
Lafe F

Tarzan is an awesome Disney animation. I was surprised they chose to adapt this story. It's got really good songs by Phil Collins. I like how the backstory is neatly told at the beginning in one song with accompanying animation. The first segment follows a young Tarzan living… More
Tarzan is an awesome Disney animation. I was surprised they chose to adapt this story. It's got really good songs by Phil Collins. I like how the backstory is neatly told at the beginning in one song with accompanying animation. The first segment follows a young Tarzan living with the animals in the jungle and is reminiscent of many other Disney animal movies. Next, we have a grown Tarzan (voiced by Tony Goldwyn), coming into contact with humans, including a dainty but independant Jane (voiced by Minnie Driver), her old professor father (Nigel Hawethorne) and a gun-toting agressive Tantor (Wayne Knight) who wants to blow Tarzan and his animal friends to smithereens. Tarzan elists his animal friends in the jungle to resolve the conflict. There's some great 3-D background animation whenever Tarzan swings and jumps through the jungle trees, creating an amazing effect of depth. A fun movie! A rousing conclusing.
Rachel F

Great Disney film. I loved the music.
Tim B

I liked the Frank Frazetta style artwork, but I was annoyed by the Rosie O'Donnel character. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a boy or a girl.
Drew S

This is around when Disney started to lose its charm in my eyes.
Jason S

Good Disney Flick
Nate Z

[font=Arial][color=darkred]The next installment in Disney's stranglehold on children is strikingly beautiful in its fluidness toward animation, color, picture, and at times true excitement. But again, it's just more of the same.[/color][/font]… More
[font=Arial][color=darkred]The next installment in Disney's stranglehold on children is strikingly beautiful in its fluidness toward animation, color, picture, and at times true excitement. But again, it's just more of the same.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Despite its rich animation, the story is again the lacking problem ringing in Disney's big ears. Every word and action falls under the strict Disney formula code, which is restraining imaginative thought more than helping it. But that's what you gotta' do I guess if you wanna' sell a billion of 'Tickle me Tarzan' merchandise.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The plot is like a watered down ghost of what Burroughs' novel was originally, but with the typical Disney formula points; there's the hero suffering from an identity crisis wanting something more, the fawn-like love interest who will eventually fall in love with the only available white man in central Africa, the treacherous one-note villain, and of course the bumbling sidekicks with comic relief and one-liners of slapstick and amusement for the kids. None of this was in 'The Iron Giant' and it still managed to be a great film. Can we at least drop some of the items on the list? There's only so much of Rosey O'Donnald a man can take.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The movie can get overly pretentious at times with the hammering of the ideals that nature... good, animals... good, man... bad. I've heard it all before, do I need it set to Phil Collins' droningly monotonous radio-friendly pop songs as well now?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Despite some flaws and the worse villain in a Disney movie of recent memory (a poor man's Gaston) it still is enjoyable and worthwhile even with the creative contraint of the Mickey Mouse gestapo. Sure it's already made millions, but for my money 'Mulan' was better.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: C+ [/color][/font]