RUDYARD KIPLING’S THE SECOND JUNGLE BOOK: MOWGLI & BALOO
A clean, classic jungle adventure for children of all ages.
Should You Watch It?
This is a fun, clean adventure yarn made with children in mind. The jungle is beautiful, the animals are endearing, Jamie Williams is terrific as Mowgli, and the filmmakers keep the animal attacks from becoming too threatening.
The film teaches that bad is bad and good wins in the end. Its main weakness is a romantic idea that Mowgli is better off in the jungle than in human society. Adults may also find the lack of danger less engaging, but that restraint makes the adventure more approachable for children.
If you want an exciting, moral family film with mild content concerns, this is worth the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESTen-year-old Mowgli lives in the 1890s jungles of India with his adopted animal family: Grey Wolf, Baloo the bear, and Bagheera the black panther.
Two monkeys, known as Bandars, want to take Mowgli to their lost city so they can learn to live as humans. After Mowgli encounters Harrison, an American circus talent scout who wants to put him on display in the United States, a mismatched search party pursues him toward the lost city.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a good, enjoyable children’s adventure with some limitations. The jungle setting is beautiful, the animals are endearing, and Jamie Williams gives a terrific performance as Mowgli.
The filmmakers show commendable care in keeping the animal attacks from becoming too threatening. That approach is well suited to children, though it may leave adults restless because there is not enough jeopardy to hold their attention completely. Overall, it is an exciting classic adventure yarn.
The Worldview
The film presents the jungle as a place where a wild Mowgli can seem better off than a civilized Mowgli living in human society. That romantic presupposition is the film’s major flaw from a Christian perspective. A person is not made good simply by living in nature, and Mowgli is not merely another animal who would be corrupted by civilization.
The movie otherwise presents a moral world. Bad is bad, good wins in the end, and the story remains moral without becoming frightening. Its central moral elements make it appealing as a children’s adventure, even though its view of human nature is incomplete.
Scripture gives the needed correction: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Romantic worldview with moral elements; 1 exclamatory profanity; nature adventure violence including python attack, pit of cobras, monkey attack, & tiger attack with little or no harm caused in each instance; and, smoking
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film presents Mowgli’s life in the jungle as better than life in human society. What does Scripture say about where sin comes from?
Mark 7:20–23 · Romans 3:23The story presents good and evil clearly, with good winning in the end. How can your family recognize and practice what is good?
Romans 12:9 · 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22The filmmakers keep the animal attacks from becoming too threatening. How can adults protect children while still allowing them to enjoy a challenging story?
1 Corinthians 10:23–24 · Philippians 4:8The film’s deepest need is not escape into nature but freedom from sin. What does Jesus promise to those He sets free?
John 8:34–36 · Galatians 5:1The Final Word
This is a beautiful, moral, child-friendly adventure with endearing animals and an excellent young lead. Its romantic view of jungle life and mild content concerns call for discernment, but families seeking a classic adventure can make the journey. WORTH THE TRIP
