Michael Cromwell (Tim Allen) is successful in the world of New York commodities trading. He plans to marry high fashion high maintenance girlfriend Charlotte (Lolita Davidovich) but first, he must get a divorce from his estranged wife Patricia (JoBeth Williams). Patricia is presently living with natives in the jungle and she shocks him by revealing that they had a son in 13-year-old Mimi-Siku (Sam Huntington). He reluctantly allows Mimi-Siku to go back to NY with him. It's a tough transition especially with the boy's pet spider. The kid falls for Michael's high strung co-worker Richard Kempster (Martin Short)'s daughter (Leelee Sobieski).
I like nobody and they are all annoying to some degree. The worst is Short but his wackiness is not unexpected. By himself, he could be written off as a bad sidekick. The problem is that Michael is unlikeable and sadly the kid is not much better. While the dad's idiocy fits the premise, it's the boy who is the most disappointing. He should be a likeable fish out of water character. He could have a nice puppy love romance with Karen as she teaches him the ways of the city and he teaches her the nobility of jungle living. Instead, he's more of a brat especially with his pet spider and he does it all with that goofy smile. I don't like the coffee trade subplot. I don't know anything about the French original but it sounds even worst. This is misguided at its core.
I like nobody and they are all annoying to some degree. The worst is Short but his wackiness is not unexpected. By himself, he could be written off as a bad sidekick. The problem is that Michael is unlikeable and sadly the kid is not much better. While the dad's idiocy fits the premise, it's the boy who is the most disappointing. He should be a likeable fish out of water character. He could have a nice puppy love romance with Karen as she teaches him the ways of the city and he teaches her the nobility of jungle living. Instead, he's more of a brat especially with his pet spider and he does it all with that goofy smile. I don't like the coffee trade subplot. I don't know anything about the French original but it sounds even worst. This is misguided at its core.