African Cats Striking but Heavy-Handed

citizen |

by Christy Lemire

LOS ANGELES, California - The first two documentaries from Disney's Disneynature label - 2009's Earth and last year's Oceans- were a stunning combination of vast, sprawling images and intimate, detailed moments.

The latest in the series, African Cats, has all the impressive visuals but far less story. Shot over more than two years in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the film bills itself as a real-life version ofThe Lion King. No one bursts into song here but Samuel L. Jackson, as the narrator, does talk. A lot.

And that's the movie's major weakness. The images and the animals' dramatic interactions -should speak for themselves. Jackson's narration is constant and overwhelming. It spells out instincts that should be obvious and assigns human characteristics in a way that's obnoxious.

African Cats, a Disneynature release, is rated G. Running time: 89 minutes. Two stars out of four.

Associated Press text, photo and/or graphic material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

STARR Community Services International, Inc.