IMDb > Congo (1995)
Congo
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Videos (see all 4)
Congo (1995) -- When an expedition to the African Congo ends in disaster, a new team is assembled to find out what went wrong.
Congo (1995) -- Open-ended Trailer from Paramount
Congo (1995) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
4.5/10   16,616 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 50% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Michael Crichton (novel)
John Patrick Shanley (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Congo on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 June 1995 (USA) more
Tagline:
Where you are the endangered species
Plot:
When an expedition to the African Congo ends in disaster, a new team is assembled to find out what went wrong. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
2 wins & 11 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(21 articles)
The Men Who Stare at Goats Trailer
 (From Atomic Popcorn. 28 August 2009, 7:08 AM, PDT)

Two New Michael Crichton Novels Found
 (From Worst Previews. 7 April 2009, 12:30 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Going Bananas! more (125 total)
US TV Schedule:

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Laura Linney ... Dr. Karen Ross

Dylan Walsh ... Dr. Peter Elliot

Ernie Hudson ... Captain Munro Kelly

Tim Curry ... Herkermer Homolka

Grant Heslov ... Richard
Joe Don Baker ... R.B. Travis

Lorene Noh ... Amy
Mary Ellen Trainor ... Moira

Misty Rosas ... Amy the Gorilla

Stuart Pankin ... Boyd
Carolyn Seymour ... Eleanor Romy

Romy Rosemont ... Assistant

James Karen ... College President / Elliot's Boss
Bill Pugin ... William
Lawrence T. Wrentz ... Prof. Arliss Wender
more
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for jungle adventure terror and action and brief strong language.
Runtime:
109 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Dylan Walsh plays Dr. Peter Elliot, a primatologist who's returning a gorilla to the wild. The real Peter Elliot is a gorilla choreographer and ape performer in many movies, including this one. more
Goofs:
Continuity: At the airport the President's car explodes hundreds of meters away from the buggy, which is then shown traveling much closer to the burning wreck. more
Quotes:
Amy: Amy good gorilla. more
Soundtrack:
Spirit Of Africa more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful.
Going Bananas!, 13 May 2008
7/10
Author: vip_ebriega from Philippines

My Take: A sometimes trite old-fashioned adventure that stays true to its form.

CONGO goes back to the old tradition of adventure movies, refurbishing it with new technology, gadgets and pumping it up with special effects (created by the ILM crew that brought us JURASSIC PARK). At the same time, CONGO brings along the genre's cheesiness, and it quite shows. The gorillas are pretty unconvincing at some parts, which you know are simply guys in gorilla suits acting it out (since, at the time CG has not yet professionalized the creation of fur). The screenplay is often filled with mediocre dialog.

The film is based on Michael Chricton's other bestselling novel and, although I haven't read the book, I'm pretty sure Chricton can't devise such a lousy story. Still, what the heck, I liked this movie. It's fun and very funny. The film takes itself a bit seriously in places it shouldn't, but I liked its nods at old adventure movies. Bring in Johnny Weissmüller and the Tarzan yell! The movie has a gorilla expert (Dylan Walsh) joining an expedition to the dark region of the Congo to return his beloved pet/test subject, a gorilla named Amy. The expedition is also accompanied by Dr. Karen Ross (Laura Linney), who works for a company called Travicom, ordered by her boss (Joe Don Baker) to investigate what has become of the first expedition sent there (as well as another objective). Also along for the trip is a Romanian "philantrophist" Herkermer Homolka (Tim Curry, in a Romanian accent). Their "Great White Hunter", who happens to be black, is the daring Monroe Kelly (Ernie Hudson from GHOSTBUSTERS).

CONGO is filled with cheesiness. Clichés are there, as are some bits of silliness that is very convincing that this isn't a Chricton creation (as a film that is). But that's just part of the fun. CONGO is a lot of fun if you are willing to suspend your disbelief for two hours (at least). The special effects are pretty good, but the film is still high on adventure. Directed by Frank Marshall, the energy is quite high, and the action scenes are pretty good.

CONGO is quite silly, but that's its heart on the right place. It's fun in both an intentional and pretentious sort of way.

Rating: ***1/2 out of 5.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Congo (1995)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Stop eating my Sesame cake! arry_rotter
Anyone else wondered why mountain blows after it's been there so long ? microbit
one of the worst movies ever aaron_beyer
Just finished reading the book........... vmclea
The myth of the killer ape is true!! RobArdern
Top 10 Man vs Animal movies!!! leag_gael1
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