Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review reveals that the latest addition to the franchise is substatiaatially less fun than a barrel full of monkeys.

It’s hard to believe that this is the 10th Planet of the Apes movie, isn’t it? 

The first one, the original Charlton Heston film where he unforgettably complained about those “Damn dirty apes!,” was released way back in 1968. So I’d guess, 56 years later, the enthusiasm for Planet of the Apes might have worn thin—unless there was something new, original and riveting to share.

Guess what? I’m wrong about that. It’s not the first time.

I regret to inform you that there is nothing new and original about Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The visuals, the story and the dialogue are murky, tedious and hard to follow. There’s very little new here, not much said that hasn’t already been said. Few questions are asked that haven’t already been answered…

…unless they’re intentionally left unanswered so they could make yet another damn dirty sequel!

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review — What’s the story?

This storyline features relatively happy apes, living in rocking, sky scraping treehouses. It’s apparent they dominate the earth now, thanks to a virus that damaged humans, while enhancing the apes.

Three teenagers (who sound like they’re middle aged and have different accents) are about to go through a coming of age ritual, when their community is attacked by an army of brutal apes who want to kill and subjugate them.

The humans are superfluous, except for one woman, who somehow did not succumb to the virus and appears to have her own, shady agenda. She’s able to collaborate with the good apes.

Everything that happens from there leads us to the same old question that every single one of its predecessors asked: Can apes and humans co-exist?

By the end of the movie, I’m not sure anyone cares. The characters are cliche and paper thin, and the narrative is so full of holes the frustration you feel in trying to follow it is exhausting.

And perhaps, most unforgivably, director Wes Ball, best known for the Maze Runner movies, seems to have forgotten to include those all important glimpses of joy and humor, however brief. He takes his material far too seriously.

Now I always like to point out at least a few virtues, as well as flaws, so I will say that the CGI and the special effects are superb. And the making of the film provided jobs for hundreds, if not thousands of people.

Rated PG-13

2 Hours 25 Minutes

If this Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review makes you want to swing over to your local cineplex to see it, get times and tickets on Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review reveals that the latest addition to the franchise is substatiaatially less fun than a barrel full of monkeys.