Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, George of the Jungle is not bad in a harmful way—it's just aggressively mediocre and feels like a relic from a bygone era of family movies that relied on one joke stretched across an entire runtime.

Brendan Fraser is doing his absolute best with material that amounts to 'man hit tree, repeat,' and there's something endearing about his commitment to the physical comedy. Younger elementary kids in that sweet spot where repetition = comedy gold might genuinely enjoy this. But for everyone else? It's a slog.

The 5.6 TMDB rating is generous. This isn't enriching, it's barely imaginative, and while it's safe and has some wholesome themes about friendship and environmentalism, those positives are buried under an avalanche of dated humor and thin storytelling. If your 6-year-old picks this, fine—it won't hurt them. But there are dozens of better family movies from the same era (and hundreds from today) that are actually watchable for the whole family.

The WISE score reflects reality: this is a below-average family comedy that modern kids will likely find boring unless they're in that very specific age range where dumb = funny.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-10 who still find repetitive physical comedy hilarious. Older kids and most adults will find it painfully dated and one-note. The humor is extremely broad and unsophisticated—think pratfalls and butt jokes.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

Live-action slapstick comedy based on the 1960s cartoon features a kind-hearted protagonist raised by gorillas. George is lovable and well-meaning, with positive messages about friendship and protecting animals. However, the humor leans heavily on physical comedy (George constantly crashing into trees) and some dated gender dynamics with the romance subplot. The tone is goofy and lighthearted, modeling cooperation between George and his animal friends, though the pacing can be chaotic with constant slapstick gags.

Imaginative

58

The jungle setting and talking animals offer some imaginative elements, and the fish-out-of-water premise (wild man meets civilization) has creative potential. However, this is a fairly straightforward adaptation of a cartoon with predictable gags and limited originality—it's more about executing familiar slapstick tropes than breaking new ground. The talking gorilla Ape provides some witty moments, but overall the movie doesn't invite much creative thinking or exploration beyond passive viewing of repetitive physical comedy.

Safe

78

Generally family-friendly with cartoon-style violence (bumps, crashes, pratfalls) that's clearly played for laughs. The poachers are villains but handled in a comedic, non-threatening way. Some mild romantic content (kissing) and Brendan Fraser in a loincloth showing considerable physique, which is played for humor but might be slightly awkward. No gore, language concerns are minimal, and the overall tone is silly rather than scary. The main 'danger' is George repeatedly smashing into trees, which could be imitable behavior but is so exaggerated it's clearly cartoonish.

Enriching

48

Limited educational or developmental value beyond basic themes of environmental protection and being true to yourself. The movie is pure entertainment—silly, slapstick fun without much depth. George's innocence and loyalty to his animal friends offer some positive modeling, but the humor is mostly physical gags and the plot is paper-thin. The talking animals could spark interest in wildlife, but the anthropomorphization is extreme. It's entertaining in a turn-your-brain-off way, but doesn't build skills, encourage critical thinking, or offer meaningful takeaways beyond 'poaching is bad.'

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Harmless slapstick that younger kids (5-8) might find genuinely hilarious in that repetitive-gag-is-funny phase
Brendan Fraser brings genuine charm and physical comedy chops to an otherwise thin role
Positive messages about protecting animals and the environment from poachers
Talking gorilla sidekick (Ape) has some legitimately witty one-liners that might land with parents
Short runtime (92 min) means it won't overstay its welcome

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What to Watch For

The tree-crashing joke happens approximately 847 times—it gets old fast for anyone over 9
Some dated gender dynamics with the damsel-in-distress romance subplot
Brendan Fraser is shirtless in a loincloth throughout (played for comedy, but still)
Cartoon violence and pratfalls that very young kids might try to imitate
This is peak late-90s cheese—if your kids are used to modern animation and effects, this will feel ancient

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think George keeps hitting trees? What could he do differently?"
"George was raised by gorillas—how do you think that would be different from being raised by people?"
"The poachers wanted to capture the animals. Why is that wrong, and what should happen to wild animals?"
"If you could talk to any animal like George does, which one would you pick?"

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