Going Ape!

Someone must have talked with Clyde's manager.

Whoever gave the green light for "Going Ape!" deserves to have to spend a few months in the company of orangutangs themselves. I mean, the ones who don't cut movie deals.

Danza plays a loser who has to babysit a trio of the orange apes and his cousin Lazlo (DeVito) in order to gain a hefty inheritance. Of course, there are forces conspiring against him.

Basically, this is just an excuse for seeing orangutangs do their stuff, and they indeed do stuff. Unfortunately, they have to involve humans in the act, too. Everyone looks pretty much embarrassed to be in this flick and who can blame them? I'm embarrassed to admit that I've seen it.

But, is "Going Ape!" worth seeing? Sure, if it's a slow night at the zoo.

But for those of us on the other side of the monkey bars....

One star. You want to see funny monkeys, watch C-SPAN.

Bad film! Bad, bad film! Not a so-bad-it's-funny movie, just a lousy excuse to put something on celluloid. I'm not sure why this was made; maybe it was a contractual obligation. Inept in every way. How absolutely embarrassing for Devito and Danza. I'm sorry I am forced to type "ten lines" in order to have my comments posted, as this film doesn't warrant such attention. Ho, ho - nuns and monkeys, what could be funnier? Think of what Paramount could have used this money for, instead of putting out something my four-year-old nephew described as "stupid." .

Jeremy Joe Kronsberg wrote and directed this comedy involving orangutans (Kronsberg also wrote Every Which Way but Loose), with Tony Danza as their keeper. Danza's father was a big star in the circus world and had left him $4,000,000, providing he can take care of the monkeys. He calls in his friend Laszlo (an uproarious Danny DeVito) to help out and also has to deal with his jealous girlfriend and her disapproving mother. The comedy is really well-done with numerous set pieces involving a food fight, a wacky climatic car chase, and a showdown at a hospital involving a slew of crooks wanting Danza's inheritance. I think of this as a old-fashioned Disney comedy, but with adult themes present.

It takes a special kind of person to care for three orangutans. When the added bonus is 5 million dollars, what more could you ask? This movie has everything! Action, comedy, romance, and, of course, orangutans.

Tony Danza is his usual self, moderately funny and passable as a leading man, but Danny DeVito as Laszlo steals the show every time he is on camera. The orangutans don't do too bad themselves. And the three bumbling goons - icing on the cake. Many may pass this gem by as stupid, but I feel it acts as a social commentary on man's relationship with beast, and is a true vision of how he treats himself, as orangutans are a very close relative genetically.

Rusty, Poppy, Teeger!! Three names that Hollywood may have forgotten, but the eternal movie gods never will.

This is one of the most unforgettable movies from my childhood, despite the poor reception by critics.