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Summary

An adolescent lion is accidentally shipped from the New York Zoo to Africa. Now running free, his zoo pals must put aside their differences to help bring him back.

Cast

Kiefer Sutherland

Samson (voice)

Jim Belushi

Benny (voice)

Eddie Izzard

Nigel (voice)

Janeane Garofalo

Bridget (voice)

William Shatner

Kazar (voice)

Richard Kind

Larry (voice)

Greg Cipes

Ryan (voice)

Colin Hay

Fergus Flamingo (voice)

Miles Marsico

Duke (voice)

Jack De Sena

Eze (voice)

Don Cherry

Penguin MC (voice)

Christian Argueta

Hamir (voice)

David Cowgill

Hamir (voice)

Lenny Venito

Stan (voice)

Joseph Siravo

Carmine (voice)

Colin Cunningham

Hyrax (voice)

Patrick Warburton

Blag (voice)

Jonathan Kimmel

Scab (voice)

Eddie Gossling

Scraw (voice)

Miss Coco Peru

Mama Hippo (voice)

Jason Harris

Additional Voices (voice)

Kevin Michael Richardson

Samson' Father (voice)

Jess Harnell

Additional Voices (voice)

Fred Tatasciore

Additional Voices (voice)

Laraine Newman

Additional Voices (voice)

Kari Wahlgren

Baby Hippo/Walla (voice)

Steve Williams

Additional Voices (voice)

Hannah Williams

Additional Voice (voice)

Audrey Wasilewski

Additional Voice (voice)

Peter Pamela Rose

Additional Voice (voice)

Paul Pape

Man #1 (voice)

Nolan North

Additional Voices (voice)

Mona Marshall

Screaming Woman / Dung Beetle #4 (voice)

Danny Mann

Additional Voices (voice)

Carolyn Lawrence

Ladybird / Monkey Girl (voice)

Josh Keaton

Rhino (voice)

Daniel Kaz

Additional Voices (voice)

John Kassir

Additional Voice (voice)

Emily Johnson

(voice)

Bridget Hoffman

(voice)

Nicholas Guest

(voice)

Eddie Frierson

(voice)

Pat Fraley

(voice)

Jeannie Elias

(voice)

Terri Douglas

Koala Toy (voice)

Debi Derryberry

Dung Beetle #3 / Monkey Girl (voice)

Jason Connery

Flamingo (voice)

Bob Bergen

Additional Voices (voice)

Greg Berg

Vulture (voice)

Keith Anthony

(voice)

Bob Joles

Camo / Ringleader (voice)

Chris Edgerly

Cloak (voice)

Julianne Buescher

Dung Beetle #2 (voice)

Nika Futterman

Dung Beetle #1 (voice)

Dominic Scott Kay

Young Samson (voice)

Crew

Director

Steve Williams

Author

David Collard

Author

Matt Lopez

Author

Lloyd Taylor

Author

Bill Wolkoff

Screenplay

Ed Decter

Screenplay

John J. Strauss

Screenplay, Story

Mark Gibson

Screenplay, Story

Philip Halprin

Reviews

r96sk

August 8, 2020

Very poor.

I couldn't tell you one thing I enjoyed about this. To be ultra fair, there isn't anything truly diabolical about it either - hence the (generous?) rating. It's just so basic and limp that it struggles to entertain at all, I'd even question if the younger audience would even like it.

The elephant in the room is also that's practically a rip-off of DreamWorks' <em>'Madagascar'</em>, which was released roughly one year prior. If we're comparing the two, <em>'The Wild'</em> is weaker in every area - and I'm not even a massive fan of that 2005 film.

Animation-wise it's disappointing, it's not just dull but also quite jarring in parts. The cast aren't much better, I wouldn't say any of them are bad but none of them are memorable one bit - if you force me to pick a noteworthy member, it would be Eddie Izzard's koala. Kiefer Sutherland (Samson) and William Shatner (Kazar) should standout, but simply do not.

The story is shallow, predictable and boringly by the numbers. I expect much more from Disney, it's safe to say. Up until this point in time, it's definitely their worst animated release that isn't a sequel/spin-off.

Not even the short run time could save this. Shame.