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CHIMPANZEEMovie Reviews
Documentary about a baby chimp unexpectedly left to fend for himself in the African forest. Cast:Tim AllenDirector:Alastair Fothergill, Mark LinfieldRelease Date:April 20, 2012DVD Release:August 21, 2012From:Walt Disney PicturesRating:GLength:2 hr 0 min
Chimpanzee played to good not great reviews. • Roger Moore wrote in the Chicago Tribune, "...a gorgeous and technically dazzling look inside the world of chimpanzees... The detail presented here is amazing." • And Peter Howell wrote in the Toronto Star, "...the film stops impressing the moment Tim Allen opens his mouth, and he rarely shuts it." More Reviews Below...
Mary Pols, Time: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...has plenty of charm and is filled with astonishingly intimate footage... but is sketchy on details and dumbed down by cutsy, anthropomorphizing narration."(See all of Mary Pols's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 04/19/12
Adam Markovitz, Entertainment Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "...gives us a fully smoothed-out story populated with chimps so cute and Disney-fied that you half expect them to break out in an Alan Menken song."(See all of Adam Markovitz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 97 words, 04/13/12
Claudia Puig, USA Today: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...features some stirring and rare footage... But it's unfortunate that the filmmakers juxtapose those striking visuals with a warlike anthropomorphizing element."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 223 words, 04/20/12
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...technically ravishing... But it feels more contrived, finally, than most other such invariable contrivances often do. Which means it doesn't quite accomplish its trick."(See all of Glenn Kenny's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 584 words, 04/18/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (12 Reviews)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: POOR "...the latest piece of gorgeously shot pablum from Disneynature... an orgy of cuteness pasted over some of the most asinine narration ever to ruin a wildlife movie."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 306 words, 04/20/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...really crafted for the kids, and on that front it excels. For adults, it has a way of feeling both too rich and too thin... But the shortfalls are mostly offset by Oscar..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 654 words, 04/20/12
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: WEAK(cg) "There was no need to edit it in overly slick ways that often make the story line seem contrived, accompanied by gag-laden narration that frequently made me want to gag."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 148 words, 04/20/12
Nell Minow, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...combines astonishingly vivid and intimate footage of animal life with narration that sometimes crosses the line between accessible and intrusive."(See all of Nell Minow's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 474 words, 04/20/12
Benjamin Mercer, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...from a nature-doc angle, 'Chimpanzee' is impressive stuff.... the constant stream of explanation often detracts from the heart-of-the-jungle sights and sounds on display."(See all of Benjamin Mercer's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 203 words, 04/18/12
Liam Lacey, Toronto Globe & Mail: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a classic Disney orphan script that seems determined to impose the plot of 'The Lion King' on a lecture in primatology."(See all of Liam Lacey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 646 words, 04/20/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The making-of featurette that plays over the end credits is a remarkable little mini-movie... perhaps we'll see a Disneynature documentary about that one day."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 146 words, 04/19/12
KEY CITIES (10 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...nature is messy... the directors don't sugarcoat the fact that life is hard for a chimpanzee, even one who's starring in his own Hollywood movie."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 400 words, 04/20/12
Gary Thompson, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "Worth it, when you see the animals in their almost-human daily routine -- grooming, socializing, using simple tools to eat food and organized hunting strategies..."(See all of Gary Thompson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 463 words, 04/20/12
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a real-life 'Bambi of the Apes'... The film is not designed to answer every question but to inspire youthful curiosity."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 339 words, 04/20/12
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "The wildlife footage is astounding... How badly does this movie want to be 'The Lion King' of ape documentaries? The villain's named Scar."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 539 words, 04/20/12
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: VERY GOOD(cg) "...at first, like another one of those safe, too-cute kiddie films that tries desperately to anthropomorphize everything.... Yet 'Chimpanzee' is a bit better than those other films."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 507 words, 04/20/12
Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...surprising and moving... doesn't try to protect children from life's harsher realities: violence, fear, hunting, death and loss."(See all of Tom Keogh's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 306 words, 04/20/12
Tom Long, Detroit News: EXCELLENT(cg) "Beautifully photographed and filled with surprises... elevates the long Disney tradition of nature films while still sticking to the formula."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 514 words, 04/20/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (9 Reviews)
Benjamin Mercer, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...from a nature-doc angle, 'Chimpanzee' is impressive stuff.... the constant stream of explanation often detracts from the heart-of-the-jungle sights and sounds on display."(See all of Benjamin Mercer's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 203 words, 04/18/12
Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...people-pleasing... contains enough stunning footage of the chimps and their jungle habitat to remain engrossing, even while it's insulting your intelligence."(See all of Katey Rich's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 04/19/12
Miles Howard, Boston Phoenix: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...combines breathtaking wildlife footage with silly, self-conscious voiceover narration... Luckily the raw footage eclipses the forced drama and quippy commentary."(See all of Miles Howard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 146 words, 04/26/12
Scott Tobias, AV Club: FAIR(cg) "Fothergill, Linfield, and their crew worked hard to collect mesmerizing images but the enforced narrative is so Disneyfied, the animals might as well be stuffed with fluff."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 399 words, 04/19/12
Cynthia Fuchs, Pop Matters: POOR(cg) "...the movie can't seem to help itself, unable to let the story unfold on its own. Instead, it imposes all manner of dramatic structure and language and big music."(See all of Cynthia Fuchs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 752 words, 04/23/12
Michelle Orange, Movieline: VERY GOOD(cg) "Inter-chimp and territorial fighting are facts of nature, but the extreme anthropomorphism of 'Chimpanzee' makes what is natural feel bizarre."(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 829 words, 04/19/12
Andrew Schenker, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...features astonishing footage of apes in their natural environment... nearly undone by a narration track that plays to the audience's basest desires for gag-inducing cuteness."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 389 words, 04/16/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The making-of featurette that plays over the end credits is a remarkable little mini-movie... perhaps we'll see a Disneynature documentary about that one day."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 146 words, 04/19/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: POOR "...the latest piece of gorgeously shot pablum from Disneynature... an orgy of cuteness pasted over some of the most asinine narration ever to ruin a wildlife movie."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 306 words, 04/20/12
Mark Jenkins, NPR: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...anthropomorphic to a fault... But the movie is designed for kids, who may not mind its oversimplifications, or narration that terms edible leaves 'side salad'..."(See all of Mark Jenkins's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 458 words, 04/19/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...really crafted for the kids, and on that front it excels. For adults, it has a way of feeling both too rich and too thin... But the shortfalls are mostly offset by Oscar..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 654 words, 04/20/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Andrew Barker, Daily Variety: MODERATE "...stunning, almost impossibly intimate... Unfortunately, this footage is welded to a creakily executed story and narrated by a schticky, frequently bellowing Tim Allen..."(See all of Andrew Barker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 515 words, 04/15/12
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: MODERATE "Good-looking nature documentary resorts to good chimp/bad chimp dramatics... this sort of throwback aimed squarely at little kids feels very old school."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 715 words, 04/16/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...really crafted for the kids, and on that front it excels. For adults, it has a way of feeling both too rich and too thin... But the shortfalls are mostly offset by Oscar..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 654 words, 04/20/12
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: GOOD(cg) "...well intentioned, sporadically informative, and always entertaining.... suffers for a severe dosage of cuteness... there is such amazing footage that I recommend it..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 532 words, 04/18/12
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: POOR "...the latest piece of gorgeously shot pablum from Disneynature... an orgy of cuteness pasted over some of the most asinine narration ever to ruin a wildlife movie."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 306 words, 04/20/12
16.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Chimpanzee's reviews are separated by an average 16.2 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Chimpanzee (37 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Chimpanzee's reviews cover 66.4% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 15,692 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 424 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 4.0 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Chimpanzee's reviews on average broke 4.0 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Chimpanzee's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Chimpanzee (37 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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