David Yates directs Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L Jackson and Margot Robbie in this old school with new tricks update of the adventure series.

Ignore the bad write-ups as this is a great adventure romp containing much to recommend it. Tarzan rips and roars along at a fair old crack with smart storytelling decisions, beautiful vistas, convincing stakes, enjoyably broad characterisation and just about as good an ensemble as you can get in a blockbuster these days. Jackson stands out as the American hero hoping to expose colonial ills with his rifle and swagger, who soon finds himself amusingly playing second fiddle once the race through the wilderness begins. With this, Django Unchained and Kingsman it looks like everyone’s favourite bad mutha fucker is fully back on form. Considering he steals the show from current highlights Robbie and Christopher Waltz doing what they equally do best is a testament to just how strong Jackson is here. If there is one fault it’s that the action is a bit unsustained. Not in any way unimpressive but maybe a faithful attempt to replicate classic cliffhangers instead of set pieces means the resolution to each action beat comes a little too quickly each time. Now, professional people’s main beef with Tarzan seems to be the colonial concept of a posh white demigod lording it over the African wildlife and locals just is a little too racist to pass muster these days. You could look at it another way… Tarzan is the near mythical tale of a man who respects and becomes a cohesive member of a foreign society that is not his own but he embraces wholeheartedly – an immigrant who thrives despite his otherness. I was the only white person I noticed at a busy showing in North London on a Tuesday night. While I can’t speak for everyone who shared the great big screen experience we did, we all seemed to gasp, cheer and laugh at the same gags, stunts and camera acrobatics. And on the way out the (very vocal) conversations I overheard were not about Alexander Skarsgård’s pale skin but his very impressive muscle tone. Maybe it’s a case that critics really should watch films with the public they are reviewing for, rather than with each other for free at a lifeless press screening. They might have PC chin scratched the average movie goer out of one of the better blockbusters of the summer.

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