Proyecto secreto simios

The eighties have to be considered part of the modern movie era. And already, this is a hidden gem.

The plot is about a government project which uses chimpanzees as guinea pigs in dangerous experiments, and about a man's change from bureaucrat to caring individual.

The plot could have been mundane and mushy, but instead was well crafted.

The film is expertly directed and written. We feel the pains and struggles. It is very moving, and sure to create a tear among the hardest hearts in places.

Air Force trainee (Matthew Broderick) is caught with a girl in a plane and is punished by being sent to a research facility where they train chimpanzees to fly with flight simulators. He becomes attached to one chimp in particular named Virgil, who was trained to speak sign language by Helen Hunt. Eventually he learns that the chimps are subjected to deadly experiments. So he seeks out Virgil's trainer so they can try to save the chimps.

Obviously this is an easy movie to deride. With its animal rights and anti-military themes, it's going to lose some audience members at the door. I'm not saying that the movie is completely fair on these issues. It's a pretty clear black & white/good vs bad kind of story that tugs at the heartstrings more than it engages the mind. But it does it very well. I enjoyed the movie a lot despite not agreeing with its oversimplified viewpoints 100%. Broderick and Hunt were great but the chimps really steal the show. It's hard not to feel sympathetic towards their plight. I also liked the ending, which many seem to think is silly. It was Disneyesque but appropriately hopeful. It's a good film. Check it out if you're not overly cynical.

Much to my surprise, it was easy to like this film. All of the primates did a great job, and although some scenes were a little hard to believe, the overall story had a good message and many terrific moments, especially towards the end. It was a very funny film at times, but for me, the more dramatic moments worked the best. A very enjoyable experience.

I saw Matthew Broderick and Helen Hunt and thought, "Comedy." Comedy it was not.

A chimpanzee by the name of Virgil left the comfy confines of a Wisconsin University for the cramped cages of Lockridge Air Force Base in Florida. There he was being trained to do flight simulations by Jimmy Garrett (Broderick). Jimmy was enjoying his job until he found out what the chimps were truly being used for: to test their ability to withstand radiation while flying. These chimpanzees were being routinely killed presumably to find out how a U.S. pilot would fare in the same situation.

Sad, I know. Jimmy had grown attached to Virgil and couldn't bear to see him sacrificed in such a manner. This movie actually tugs at the heart strings. We can easily rationalize harming other creatures for the benefits of mankind, but this was a sad case. I don't want to prop this movie up like it's an Oscar-worthy movie, but it was done well.

What are you people thinking with these ratings? This was a super movie filled with emotions, and finally a decent movie concerning man and monkey. Matthew Broderick and Helen Hunt do a wonderful job, and the movie touches a part of your soul. Great film.