Running Wild (1998) (TV)

Director:

Timothy Bond

Writers:

Hunter Phoenix (story)
Harry Alan Towers (writer)

Release Date:

26 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Gregory Harrison	...	Matt Robinson
Lori Hallier	...	Rachel Robinson
Cody Jones	...	Nicholas Robinson
Brooke Nevin	...	Angela Robinson
Munyaradzi Kanaventi	...	Isaac
Themba Ndaba	...	Ngai
Simon MacCorkindale	...	Walton Baden Smythe
Jason Kennett	...	The Poacher
John Chinosiyani	...	Scarface
Elizjah Madzikatire	...	Abraham
Patrice Chakanyuka	...	Poacher #1
Dylan Wilson-Max	...	Poacher #2
Gavin Dolborne	...	Mercernary
Dolly Davunga	...	Jacarganda
Themba John	...	Ranger

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Company:

Save The Animals

If you want baby elephants, watch 'Dumbo' -- it's more realistic!

Let me start by saying that I grew up in Zimbabwe — not just in Zim but in the bush, & so I welcomed the chance to see the beautiful scenery of my homeland.

That said, let me add that I didn't finish this film, as it was made 'Bambi' look like the 'Dirty Dozen', for at least Bambi was reasonably accurate — the deer didn't get a job with NASA or solve the troubles of the world! The Zim scenery was beautiful, but then even Hollywood can't change that. However, the price the filmmakers paid to use that scenery (I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here) was too high. For example:

1. The way that the bad guys were mostly white. Yes, there are some whites at the top of poaching but there are damn'd few at the 'coalface' end, in the field! Racism is bad whichever way it goes.

2. I'm sorry to disillusion you, folks, but there are precious few North Americans even in African cities, let alone in the middle of the bush. The fact that the only 2 white folk in the district are both from across the Atlantic is pushing coincidence towards fantasy. That's like showing a film about a Mexican game park & the only 'gringos' are a Brit & a Norwegian! Not very plausible.

3. The facilities in the bush were all like some a safari holiday arranged by Abercrombe and Kent. I know they were too much like roughing it for the kids but in reality, anyone working in the bush has to put up with a lot less comfort than these guys did.

Poaching is a blight upon the face of civilisation & anyone who buys or uses ivory should be forced to work on an anti-poaching patrol for a while, as many of my school friends (black & white) did. Therefore, anything that publicises this evil should be welcomed. However, this film wasted the opportunity to do that, preferring instead a scenario whereby a modern day (& suitably PC) John Wayne type figure comes in & saves Africa.

A few well-chosen changes & a writer that had least spent time in the outer suburbs of Harare, if not into the bush itself, could have made this a worthwhile film. As it is, the Eurovision Song Contest would be preferable — if that's possible!