Summer of the Monkeys (1998) User Reviews

More than you would expect

[Milhaud · 7/10 · 14 June 2000]

At first I thought this would be a standard boy-meets-pet movie. Indeed, in the first part, you see many typical elements of that type of movie : it's the beginning of summer vacations, young Jay wants to work at his grandfather's general store to buy a pony for himself but he can't because he has to work on the family farm. And then there's his sister who has an handicapped leg, and an the old hermit who shoots everything he sees moving in the woods.

But as the story evolves, you discover many profound characters and relationships : the old hermit is not exactly what you thought, the grandfather has many interesting conversations with his grandson and with Jay's mother (his own daughter). The relationship between Jay and his sister also develops into something not predictable at first.

And of course, the chimps are there all along, which can only add comic as well as touching situations.

I rented that movie mainly for my children, but all in all, I found many edifying lessons for myself in it.

Above Average Monkey Movie.

[johnstonjames · 7/10 · 19 July 2010]

this was better than most monkey movies i have seen and i've seen a lot of them. i think monkey movies are usually pretty low-brow (with the exception of the excellent 'Toby Tyler'), but i still have a tendency to like them anyhow. i even like the 'Bonzo' monkey movies with Ronald Reagan.

'Monkey Summer', or whatever it is, is more serious and intellectually ambitious than monkey movies usually are. this doesn't always work in it's favor, but it does get you to take it more seriously as film making than other monkey films. for one thing, because it is more serious story telling and actually has a real plot (monkey movies usually don't), it can be a little slow moving at times. there are some funny moments of monkey mayhem, monkeys trashing houses, having pillow fights, and monkeys drinking bootleg to get drunk, just not enough of them. the action mostly concentrates on the story of the kid who wants to catch the monkeys. the 'Monkey's Uncle' was a lot more brainless than this, but it was more fun to watch and had more monkey antics.

the acting is good in this movie, the script is often thoughtful and kind of moving in a sincere way, and the feel for it's historical period is quite good. the scene where the monkey's owner drives up in a turn of the century auto is engaging. it was also nice to see the little girl who played the role in the very good TV movie adaptation of 'A Wrinkle in Time'. she's quite good here.

also let me clear up one thing. this movie was picked up and distributed by Disney but was not actually produced by the company. it was produced by Michael Anderson in Canada with another film company. Disney's name is on the DVD package but not actually on the film itself. no matter. this film has all the elements of your typical Disney flick and is very wholesome and G-rated (with the exception of drunken monkeys, but hey, 'Dumbo' had a drunken elephant).

i also forgot to add that these ain't monkeys. they are chimps. a monkey ain't a chimp and a chimp ain't a monkey. there IS a difference. why do Hollyweird and the mooovies keep making that mistake.

Enjoyable movie for family viewing

[dejmouse · 7/10 · 29 June 2008]

I enjoyed watching this movie very much. I will say that the acting was not the best ever but it was just fine. I have seen much worse acting in movies that come right out of Hollywood. This is a movie that contains no swearing, nudity, or excessive violence. There is a fist fight between two boys and that's as far as it goes. The ending may be somewhat predictable but it is still heartwarming. This movie reminds me of the way it used to be "back in the good old days" where children were taught right from wrong and family values were a wholesome part of life. Don't watch this movie if you plan on critiquing every scene and action of the actors or you will probably come away disappointed. If you choose to watch it just for the fun of it and to share some time with your family then I think you will enjoy it as much as I did. At least I hope so.

an Unforgotten Heartwarming Family Classic

[sandlot1992 · 6/10 · 20 August 2022]

In the tradition of "Old Yeller", "the Waltons", "Monkey Trouble" and "Dunston Checks In". This heartwarming unforgotten family/animal film will delight both young and old and those who have or haven't read the book that was based off and written by the Author who also wrote "Where the Fern Grows". Director Michael Anderson (the Oscar Winning Director of Around the World in 80 Days and Logan's Run) does a very good job directing this family film, the Cinematography is Magnificent and so out the Costumes, and the acting is very nice and delighted and Screenwriter Jim Strain (the writer for Bingo (1991)) and Greg Taylor (Prancer, Jumanji, Harriet the Spy) did a good job writing and changing the setting to the Canadian Plains in 1910, plus this family film deals with with many issues common to adolescents such as peer relationships, bullies, sibling relationships, conflict with parents, role in the family, accepting responsibility, sharing, caring,and maturing. It also deals with seeing things from another's point of view. It is pertinent to children and bittersweet nostalgic for adults and there are some scenes that will make you laugh, make you cry and put a smile on your face and the whole family will enjoy it as well.

Plus i first saw this movie on videocassette before i read the book and i recommand checking this out for those who read this book and "Where the Red Fern Grows" at local Public Libraries and Public Schools as well, and despite that this was Independent Movie and being released straight to video and distributed by Walt Disney Home Video back in the Holiday Season of 1998.

Completely Dreadful

[fratl · 1/10 · 23 February 2006]

I am in a movie club at my school and I was forced to sit and watch this utterly dismal film. The film's story is not dismal, but the entire movie itself is exceedingly dismal. The acting was absolutely dreadful. The children were overly whiny. A metal pole could have done a better job. I wanted desperately to fall asleep, but because the television was so loud, I was kept from peace. The monkey's are neither cute, nor are they funny. The drama is laugh-worthy. I cannot remember when I saw a more dreadful film. The story is weak, thin, predictable, and completely fake. The adults try to be good actors, but they just can't seem to break through stereotypes. The girl even appears to want to leave the film via falling off a hill during the movie in order to leave it, I don't blame her. Micheal Anderson should publicly apologize for this film. Not just to me, but to everyone else who was forced to sit through this awful film. In fact, I apologize to you. Even if I had nothing to do with this project, I apologize for this film, because this means at least someone will. This film even surpasses the dismalness of films that of Rob Schneider and the Cheetah Girls. I would even go as far to say that it is even worse that Hilary Duff's collection of films, but that's pushing it. Just please don't see this film, or else you'll be pushed to write a review similar to this one on how awful this film is. I'm very sorry.

a great family movie

[treighnor · 9/10 · 8 October 2004]

I watched this with another adult and nine children. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The monkeys were very entertaining and there were plenty of laughs. However, the movie is mainly quite serious. It deals with many issues common to adolescents such as peer relationships, bullies, sibling relationships, conflict with parents, role in the family, accepting responsibility, sharing, caring,and maturing. It also deals with seeing things from another's point of view. it is pertinent to children and bittersweet nostalgic for adults.

The story line was original, the acting very good, the cinematography outstanding and the costuming was authentic. I would give this movie very high marks and recommend it to both adults and children. There should be more movies of this quality and thoughtfulness generated for the enjoyment of families and movie buffs.

Don't watch this movie! Read the book

[lindaonj-57849 · 1/10 · 1 November 2019]

The book is so amazing as Wilson Rawls writes his magical story just as he did with Where the Red Fern Grows. The movie "Where the Red Fern Grows" does not disappoint and is 99% just like the book. Summer of the Monkeys was lazily done. They didn't follow the book and may as well not referred to The Wilson Rawls version. So disappointing I wouldn't let my children watch it , because the writings of Wilson Rawls should be respected as "Where the Red Fern Grows " director and producer respected his writing.

great movie

[psychosomatic99 · 9/10 · 18 August 2006]

Summer of the Monkeys is a great movie. It's excellent for children watching these cute monkeys and see a boy go crazy over them. It's young for the kids and for the adults, they can pick out the deeper meaning of a boy struggling through his adolescent years. It's the story of a young boy who wants a pony and will do anything for one. He tried to work at his grandpa's store but chores get in the way too much. He's soon punished for not watching his sister, who has a leg problem and needs an operation and is not permitted to go to his grandpas. Now, he can't buy the pony he wanted. He runs away from home and only his grandpa can talk him back. A wanted poster is out for the monkeys and Jay's enemies try to go kill them. Jay foils there trap and they hate him for it. They beat him up and Jay's friend who is a hermit scares the boys away and protects Jay. But after a storm that destroys many things, including the death of his friend, Jay learns the meaning of selflessness. This is a great movie for everyone and I really liked it. I would recommend it for a good movie for the family.

Summer of a Boy and some Monkeys

[CDiablo · 3/10 · 7 March 2010]

Being one of the founding fathers of my regions monkey movie club(this also includes apes/chimps and orangutans) I am reviewing this film from a monkey movie standpoint. Afterall it is a whole summer of monkeys, 100+ days for monkeys to do what they do best, cause mischief, shenanigans, hyjinx, solve human problems and teach us about ourselves.

The story is simple enough. In short poor boy needs money for stuff he wants. Luckily there's a few monkeys(chimpanzees) that have a bounty on their head that would get Boba Fett or Dog's(Duane Chapman) blood flowing. As the boy tries to catch the monkeys he learns about himself, his family, his grandpa, the local weirdo, flirts with a girl twice his age and learns the beast way to deal with bullies is to have someone point a shotgun at them.

There within lies the problem. So much focus is put on the boy that the chimps just don't get the screen time they deserve. The chimps are not as talented as the chimp(s) that play Jack from the M_P trilogy or the legendary orangutans that play Dunstin or Clyde(1 or 2). So don't watch this movie expecting to find the next big thing in the Chimp genre. The chimps hit some sweet flips which is what the film needed more of. There is an epic scene of the chimps breaking into the poor families house and destroys all the things they worked so hard for. Serious monkey movie enthusiasts will want to rent the film for this scene alone.

So in closing this movie is not for the serious monkey movie enthusiast. I wouldn't recommend this movie to families as it encourages a childs rebellion against their parents. I can only recommend this film as a rental for hardcore monkey loving adults and well supervised children.

A movie from my childhood that's still brings tears to my eyes 25 years later.

[nlk87 · 5/10 · 21 July 2023]

I was 11 when this movie 1st came out. I've been a movie person since I was 2 yrs old. Movies over toys! I got this movie for Christmas 1998. Yes it's a silly Disney movie but it is beautiful. The entire movie. If you haven't watched it yet, you should. Like I said above, 25 yrs later & this movie still brings tears to my eyes. & if your wondering why about my 5/10 rating since I like it so much, my rating system is different from other people's. I never ever rate anything 9 or 10/10 (no movies perfect.) I've rated over 1,600 movies & half of them are 4/10 which means I enjoyed the movie & will watch it again someday. Now a 5/10 means I really really liked it. Movies like Star Wars, Terminators, Indiana Jones, Top Guns, Mission Impossibles, etc, I rated those 1/10... Sorry not sorry, those horrible "box office" hits sucked!

Great Adaptation of Wilson Rawls Classic Novel

[scottca075 · 8/10 · 9 June 2002]

This is a well acted & directed adaptation of Wilson Rawls "Summer of the Monkeys". A truly great movie for kids and a book that ought to be read too, along with Rawls award winning, "Where the Red Fern Grows".

Good summer fare for kids out of school for the summer and entertaing for adults too.