On March 14, 1997, Tim Allen's third feature film, Jungle 2 Jungle, was released. The Disney comedy was about Michael Cromwell (Allen), a New York stock trader, who goes down to Venezuela to finalize his divorce with his ex-wife (JoBeth Williams) so that he can go through with his wedding to his girlfriend Charlotte (Lolita Davidovich). There, Michael learns that he has a 13-year-old son named Mimi-Siku (Sam Huntington) who has been living in the jungle all these years. Mimi-Suki asks "Baboon," his name for Michael, to take him to New York to "get fire from the statue of liberty" as his assignment to become a man in his tribe. Michael reluctantlly agrees to take Mimi-Siku back home with him. In New York, Michael must introduce Mimi-Siku to a whole new culture. Mimi-Siku goes from one jungle (the real venezuelean jungle) to another jungle (New York City). Hence, the title, Jungle 2 Jungle. Along the way, Mimi-Siku's introduction to american culture provides much laughter in this hilarious comedy. But when Michael and his partner The film, rated PG, runs 1 hour and 40 minutes long, co-stars Martin Short, David Ogden Stiers, and Leelee Sobieski. It is based on the 1995 French Film Un indien dans La ville.

here are some really great pics from Jungle 2 Jungle that were only available on a rare Cd-rom presskit...click on the thumbnail to see the large sized picture

My Review of the Film

Jungle 2 Jungle PG 1997 Comedy 1:45
Tim Allen, Martin Short, Lolita Davidovich, Sam Huntington, David Ogden Stiers, Leelee Sobieski, JoBeth Williams
Director: John Pasquin
Summary: Michael Cromwell (Allen), a Wall Street business trader is the epitome of a New York City businessman. Cromwell is expecting to marry his fiancée Charlotte soon, but first he has to legalize his divorce with ex-wife Patricia (Williams). Patricia is living in the African desert with a bunch of Indian tribe members. There, Cromwell learns that he has a 13-year old son named Mimi-Siku (Huntington) who has been living in Africa and learning the ways of the jungle his whole life. They decide that Cromwell should get to know his son, so Mimi-Siku travels back to New York with his father. Thus, the title Jungle (Africa) 2 Jungle (New York City). Anyway, Mimi-Siku leans the way of civilized humans eventually, but there's of course funny moments on the way. Meanwhile, Cromwell and his business partner (Short) get themselves in quite a situation when they have tons of coffee beans in their hands. The two men wind up getting in trouble with the Russian Mafia. In the end, Cromwell and Mimi-Siku bond and build a close father-son relationship. Both learn a lot about the other and about the other jungle.
Opinion: A fun-filled Disney film with plenty of comedy and adventure. One of the best live action motion pictures in Disney history and a refreshing alternative to some of Disney's more recent animation disappointments (i.e. Pocahontas, etc.) Allen is great, and provides much of the comedy. He is assisted by a solid performance from newcomer Huntington and the hilarious Short.
Rewind: A whole day of filming was lost one day when it was left in a NYC taxi cab by one of the production crew's members. It was never recovered and the whole day of shooting had to be shot again.
Filmed: Canaima, Venezuela; New York, New York; Pound Ridge, NY
Timeframe: Months
Release Date: March 14, 1997
Walt Disney Pictures, TFI International

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