Going Ape! (1981) User Reviews

Only viewable when you are under 10

[kellysustti · 5/10 · 11 December 2022]

I remember seeing this movie on TV as an 8 year old and found it hilarious. I mean who doesn't love Orangutans and people acting like idiots? The jokes seemed funny and everyone acted like a cartoon character. When I watched this again in my 20s I realized how horrible and unfunny it was.

The entire movie simply existed to showcase the tricks the trained apes could do. I guess in 1980 you could make an entire movie about that. But since the early 00s, you could just go on internet and see Orangutans do stupid crap. You don't need a two hour movie for it.

Tony Danza and Danny DeVito were huge stars at the time from Taxi and weren't needed in the movie. All the human characters were made to act braindead likely cause the audience for the film were 8 year olds.

Basically this is a kids' movie. Anyone over the age of 10 probably will hate it.

Lots of monkeying around.

[Hey_Sweden · 5/10 · 29 March 2024]

Orangutan-fixated screenwriter Jeremy Joe Kronsberg ("Every Which Way But Loose") debuts as director with more primate hijinks as Foster Sabatini (Tony Danza) inherits a trio of orangutans from his late father Max, owner of a circus. He must successfully care for the apes for two years; then, only then, he'll inherit his dads' $5 million fortune. Naturally, greedy / scummy characters abound who also want their hands on the money.

"Going Ape!" is a deliberately dopey, goofy comedy complete with tons of slapstick, and culminating in some frantic chases, making it reminiscent of the kind of thing that Disney was doing in some of its live action features of the 60s and 70s. For me personally, some of the humor just fell flat, with uninspired direction from Kronsberg. As you may well expect, the orangutans completely steal the show, and they can be HILARIOUS. Thanks to them, and some good moments for Danzas' 'Taxi' co-star Danny DeVito and Jessica Walter ("Play Misty for Me"), the movie manages to not be a total waste of time. Danza, at least, is likeable as usual, and Stacey Nelkin ("Halloween III: Season of the Witch") is typically adorable as his frustrated girlfriend. The supporting cast includes Art Metrano ("Police Academy" 2 and 3), Frank Sivero ("GoodFellas"), Rick Hurst ('The Dukes of Hazzard'), Joseph Maher ("The Evil That Men Do"), Leon Askin ('Hogan's Heroes'), Jacquelyn Hyde ("Take the Money and Run"), and Ted White (Jason in "Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter"). The boy at the funeral is played by Gabriel Jarret ("Real Genius"), in his film debut; he's Kronsbergs' son.

Obviously, silliness like this won't be to all tastes. Some people will find it tiresome. But, like those aforementioned Disney pictures, all of its violence is purely comical where nobody gets really hurt, and the bad guys all end up getting what they deserve. The kid(s) in your family will probably like this.

Five out of 10.

Possibly the best movie ever!

[Loki928 · 9/10 · 16 December 2004]

It takes a special kind of person to care for three orangutans. When the added bonus is 5 million dollars, what more could you ask? This movie has everything! Action, comedy, romance, and, of course, orangutans.

Tony Danza is his usual self, moderately funny and passable as a leading man, but Danny DeVito as Laszlo steals the show every time he is on camera. The orangutans don't do too bad themselves. And the three bumbling goons - icing on the cake. Many may pass this gem by as stupid, but I feel it acts as a social commentary on man's relationship with beast, and is a true vision of how he treats himself, as orangutans are a very close relative genetically.

Rusty, Poppy, Teeger!! Three names that Hollywood may have forgotten, but the eternal movie gods never will.

Clumsy "Ape"....

[Mister-6 · 15 September 1999]

Someone must have talked with Clyde's manager.

Whoever gave the green light for "Going Ape!" deserves to have to spend a few months in the company of orangutangs themselves. I mean, the ones who don't cut movie deals.

Danza plays a loser who has to babysit a trio of the orange apes and his cousin Lazlo (DeVito) in order to gain a hefty inheritance. Of course, there are forces conspiring against him.

Basically, this is just an excuse for seeing orangutangs do their stuff, and they indeed do stuff. Unfortunately, they have to involve humans in the act, too. Everyone looks pretty much embarrassed to be in this flick and who can blame them? I'm embarrassed to admit that I've seen it.

But, is "Going Ape!" worth seeing? Sure, if it's a slow night at the zoo.

But for those of us on the other side of the monkey bars....

One star. You want to see funny monkeys, watch C-SPAN.

A Guilty Pleasure, But An Entertaining Comedy

[abbazabakyleman-98834 · 7/10 · 17 March 2019]

Jeremy Joe Kronsberg wrote and directed this comedy involving orangutans (Kronsberg also wrote Every Which Way but Loose), with Tony Danza as their keeper. Danza's father was a big star in the circus world and had left him $4,000,000, providing he can take care of the monkeys. He calls in his friend Laszlo (an uproarious Danny DeVito) to help out and also has to deal with his jealous girlfriend and her disapproving mother. The comedy is really well-done with numerous set pieces involving a food fight, a wacky climatic car chase, and a showdown at a hospital involving a slew of crooks wanting Danza's inheritance. I think of this as a old-fashioned Disney comedy, but with adult themes present.

The funniest apes on this earth!!!

[arkokott · 10/10 · 28 June 2000]

Going Ape is one of best movies ever made. I believe people should reevaluate their vote on this fine movie. If anybody loves to watch a butch of crazy apes that are constantly getting into mischief, this is the movie for you!!!

Putting on the Suit

[tedg · 13 September 2003]

Spoilers herein.

I see a lot of movies, and many many of them are bad. I do this deliberately because so many bad or mundane movies have interesting features.

Danny Devito sometimes pops up as the interesting feature. This movie was made because they had access to a some chimps, and could drag out all the funny face and human/monkey gags.

This is casual filmmaking, and gives the impression that people just showed up for a week or so. In such cases, actors do their own work in making up characters. Devito is a smart guy. Watch how he places his character halfway between the humans and the monkeys.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

Wasn't all that bad

[Melakward · 8/10 · 25 February 2005]

Wow. It seems like if you see this movie, you will either absolutely hate it, or absolutely love it! The movie had an interesting dynamic. It was hard to determine exactly what category this movie was meant for. It seemed to be targeted more towards kids with all of the high-jinks and buffoonery, but then there was far too much swearing in it to let kids watch.

I let my 10 and 8 year old brother and sister watch it, and they loved it! I watched it for Tony Danza, who was still very green at the time, but still managed to pull it off. Danny DeVito was brilliant, like always, and I would recommend you keep an open mind if you plan on watching this movie.

Very underrated

[fpratt · 8/10 · 27 January 2019]

This is one of the most unforgettable movies from my childhood, despite the poor reception by critics.

one funny film

[jeffarent · 1 December 2002]

i loved this movie, i first saw it when i was five, now fifteen years it's just as funny as it was the first time. i own the video, and i have the original poster framed on my bedroom wall. this one the best "ape" films out there.

BALLs

[jljlbecerra · 10/10 · 21 March 2017]

Change the sentences form Active to Passive: 1. They grow coffee in Kenya. - In Kenya, coffee is grown. 2. A snake bit him. - He was bitten by a snake. 3. They transport oranges form Valencia to Germany in special crates. - Oranges are transported from Valencia to Germany, in which said oranges are transported in special crates. 4. The shark ate the man. - The man was eaten by a shark. 5. The police took him away. - He was taken away by the police. 6. Henry and his cousin built that house in 1974. - The house in which Henry and his cousin worked on was built in 1974. 7. The fire fighters saved Lili's life.- Lili's life was saved by the fire fighters.

Chose the correct verb: Active or Passive 1. These cars are produced in Japan. 2. Ted teaches English. 3. German is spoken in Austria. 4. Lots of houses were destroyed by the earth quake. 5. Graham Bell invented the telephone. 6. Somebody cleans the office every day. 7. Somebody sends these E-mails. 8. The grass is cut every day. 9. Paul found the key. 10. The computer was fixed yesterday. 11. My backpack was stolen.

Put the verbs in the correct form: Active or Passive: 1. He opened the door. 2. The letter was sent by me. 3. The airline sent our passage to Australia by mistake. 4. Soy is grown by farmers in Argentina. 5. People exported Spanish Tortillas to the U.S 6. The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. 7. You can't find penguins in the north pole. 8. America was not discovered by Columbus in 1491. 9. My uncle sold the bicycle when he was young. 10. All the plates in the cupboard were broken by the child. 11. Robin did not find the book.

Horrible

[Ripshin · 29 February 2004]

Bad film! Bad, bad film! Not a so-bad-it's-funny movie, just a lousy excuse to put something on celluloid. I'm not sure why this was made; maybe it was a contractual obligation. Inept in every way. How absolutely embarrassing for Devito and Danza. I'm sorry I am forced to type "ten lines" in order to have my comments posted, as this film doesn't warrant such attention. Ho, ho - nuns and monkeys, what could be funnier? Think of what Paramount could have used this money for, instead of putting out something my four-year-old nephew described as "stupid." .

Still delivers to this day!

[boc4ever · 10/10 · 21 May 2022]

I couldn't believe my eyes when I discovered they finally put this on Blu Ray. I recorded it from cable in the 80s and wore that tape out. Haven't seen it since. This is the epitome of 80s comedies. Put your brain on hold and just flow with the story. I haven't laughed this hard since before the pandemic started. It probably won't fly with those who are expecting something profound. If the idea of an orangutan bitch slapping a bumbling criminal makes you smile, you won't be disappointed.