Chimpanzee

Continuing the Disney tradition of live-action wildlife films, this heart-warming, inspirational documentary explores the intricate social structure of a tribe of 35 simians living in the Taï rainforest on Africa's Ivory Coast and their daily struggle for survival. The focus is on a youngster named Oscar, whose playful curiosity and enthusiasm for discovery reflect his instinctive intelligence and ingenuity. His mother, Isha, and white-bearded alpha male leader, Freddy, teach Oscar how to navigate his habitat and forage for food. Along the way, Oscar learns how to weave a treetop nest with flexible branches, pull a honeycomb from a bee's nest, and make tools, using sticks to stab ants and rocks to crack nuts. Territorial conflict arises when Oscar's family is violently confronted by rival chimps—led by sinister Scar—after which a bewildered Oscar must fend for himself, until an unexpected parental figure steps into his life and changes it forever. Telling an inspirational story that also touches on the ecological dangers of deforestation and poaching, the film boasts remarkable photography—painstakingly shot over a period of four years with the cooperation of primatologist Jane Goodall's famous institute. The only drawback is Tim Allen's banal, cloyingly cute, and endlessly anthropomorphical narration. Aside from that, this is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the featurettes “See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees” (3 min.), “Disney's Conservation Legacy” (2 min.), and “Disney's Friends for Change,” and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is an “On Location” making-of featurette on the three-year project (39 min.), and the “Rise” music video by the McClain Sisters with a brief behind-the-scenes look at its production. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a mostly winning nature doc.] (S. Granger)