The Monkey's Uncle

Robert Stevenson directed quite a few great Disney movies but "The Monkey's Uncle" isn't one of them. It's an okay watch, at best. The human cast is good. They all turn in nice performances. The monkey, however, isn't so hot. All of his scenes are pretty dumb. The nice cast is let down by a weak script. There is very little plot and very few real laughs. "The Monkey's Uncle" is an okay time killer if you're in the mood for a "vintage" Disney life action movie.

It seems that it would have been good as a series because yes it's true that the movie seems to have two different plots but with an underlying plot to save football at Midvale College and Merlin Jones is the one to do it! I like this movie, I guess it brings back childhood memories. The first part of the movie, Merlin adopts a chimpanzee and has a girlfriend Jennifer. Some of the football players won't be able to play if they fail a test. So , Merlin decided to help by experimenting with sleep learning. The next part of the movie, Merlin is confronted with the task to create man-powered flight. He may or may not succeed...Cute movie with good actors. It's like the movies, babes in toyland, child of glass, and other oldies that my mom used to have us watch over and over again since we didn't have cable!

Merlin Jones and Jennifer are back, in the sequel to The Misadventures of Merlin Jones. This time around, Merlin, after fighting for Stanley the monkey's (actually a chimp) rights, he is seeking custody, making him the "monkey's uncle." Judge Holmsby returns as well.

Meanwhile, the college is in need of funding to stay alive. The board of regents, to which Judge Holmsby sits, has asked former alumni for help, to no avail. Until a cantankerous crackpot, much like Merlin Jones himself appears, and makes a ridiculous offer. Cue the hilarity.

The man's name, Darius Green III, his offer, funding. The only problem, he will only pay if someone can fly like a bird! Sounds like an unattainable task, but a challenge for Merlin Jones.

Remember, always check references. You never know who Darius Green III really could be!

Slow and formulaic, it does at least have an amusing eventual pay-off.

'The Monkey's Uncle' is a sequel that never needed to be made. It isn't an awful film at all but struggles in a similar way as 'The Misadventures of Merlin Jones' does, just without the promising beginning.

The premise is dull, there is minor intrigue in the Darius Green III (Arthur O'Connell) plot but everything that builds up to it is uninteresting and mostly predictable. Tommy Kirk (Merlin) and Annette Funicello (Jennifer) are solid, but the performance of Leon Ames (Holmsby) comes across more sillier than in the 1964 production.

Disney continue to be iffy with their live-action sequels.

Cute Disney film - the title sequence with Annette Funicello and the Beach Boys (who seemed to me to be on the verge of cracking up laughing the whole time) is worthwhile in and of itself. Check out Dennis Wilson's "Funky Monkey" dance since he's not singing.

Anyway, this is a breed of film I wish they still made - goofy but not really stupid, a cute teenager comedy with a little innocent flirtation here and there, some very pre-PC dialogue, and a monkey who disappears from middle 3/4 of the movie. Some continuity problems, but hey, if you're looking for great cinema you shouldn't be looking at a film called "The Monkey's Uncle".

If you're into chimp films (and if so, I really don't want to hear about it) and you rented this one expecting to see a lot of monkey, you will be frustrated. On the other hand, if you think Annette Funicello was hot, this is your kinda flick. "Lost In Space" fans will also enjoy seeing Mark Goddard as the BMOC.

Otherwise, it's a cute little film to watch with young kids or by yourself when you're busting out code at home at 3 AM and it's either "The Monkey's Uncle" or an infomercial.