What's up, guys? Tigerfan45 here, and I'm back again. Now, I love both versions of The Jungle Book. I loved the live action remake that came out in 2016, and I loved the original animated version. The sequel to the animated film, on the other hand, stinks! But, believe it or not, there is actually a smart idea in The Jungle Book 2, it's just buried under multiple layers of poor execution. So, here's how I would have directed the film if I were in charge.
Plot[]
The film starts right where the first movie ended, with Mowgli following Shanti into the Man Village. The film then flashes forward to ten years later, when Mowgli is a grown man. He and Shanti are married, and have had two children: a son named Nathoo, and a daughter, named Leila. Mowgli lives a happy, prosperous life in the Man Village with his family, but, does have an enemy in the village: Buldeo, a wicked Hunter. Buldeo demands that Mowgli take him to find the hidden treasure in the jungle, but Mowgli, knowing his true nature and how much of a threat that Buldeo poses to the jungle, refuses. Furious, Buldeo kidnaps Shanti, Nathoo, and Leila in the night. The next morning, Mowgli awakens to find his family missing, and runs to the jungle to find them. Upon arriving, he reunites with Baloo, who is overjoyed at seeing his "bear cub" again, and Bagheera, who expresses pride at seeing the man that Mowgli has become. After Mowgli explains his reasons for returning to the jungle, Baloo and Bagheera agree to help Mowgli rescue his family.
During their journey, Mowgli sees tiger tracks, and suspects that the culprit for his family's disappearance is his old enemy, Shere Khan the tiger. He follows the tracks, and, sure enough, he finds Shere Khan caught in one of Buldeo's hunting traps. Mowgli demands that Shere Khan tell him what happened to his family, but the tiger assures Mowgli that he had no involvement in the predicament of Mowgli's family. Nonetheless, Mowgli frees Shere Khan from the trap, and walks away with Baloo and Bagheera, leaving Shere Khan speechless. Later, Mowgli, Baloo, and Bagheera run into Kaa, who tries once again to hypnotize and eat Mowgli. Due to the knowledge that Mowgli had from his past encounters with Kaa, doesn't fall for any of the snake's tricks. He does however, find use in Kaa, asks for his help. Though reluctant at first, Kaa agrees, when Mowgli promises him a meal.
That night, the group stops to rest, and Mowgli makes a campfire, but assures Kaa, Baloo, and Bagheera that he knows how to control "the red flower". This catches the attention of King Louie. The next morning, Louie approaches the group, saying that he will help them, since Buldeo has taken over his temple, where he's holding Mowgli's family hostage. Mowgli them correctly deduces that it was Buldeo who captured his family. After enlisting the help of Colonel Hathi and the Jungle Patrol, the vultures, and Akela and the wolf pack, Mowgli has Louie lead them all to the monkeys' temple, where, sure enough, Buldeo is there, with his henchmen, Shanti, Nathoo, and Leila. Buldeo demands once again that Mowgli take him to find the hidden treasure of the jungle, and threatens to kill Mowgli's family should he refuse again.
Mowgli pretends to surrender to Buldeo's wishes, but then signals the other animals of the jungle too attack. The wolves, elephants, vultures, and monkeys manage to drive Buldeo's thugs out of the jungle forever, while Baloo and Bagheera get Mowgli's family to safety. Now robbed of his leverage, the angry Buldeo fights Mowgli himself, and nearly wins, when Shere Khan arrives unexpectedly, and manages to pounce on Buldeo, knocking him off Mowgli. Working together, the former enemies manage to fight Buldeo out of the temple. The injured Buldeo finds himself near a river, where he is hypnotized and devoured by Kaa.
While grateful for his help, Mowgli asks Shere Khan why he came to help, and the tiger explains that when he had earlier freed him from the trap, he felt himself in debt, and asks Mowgli for forgiveness for his previous actions, to which the latter accepts. Mowgli thanks his friends, and Shere Khan, for their help, and returns to the Man Village with his wife and children. Before he leaves, Bagheera tells Mowgli that he and his family are always welcome to return to the jungle.
The next day, it's revealed that Mowgli now takes Shanti, Nathoo, and Leila on frequent visits to the jungle, to visit their animal friends.
Cast (in order of appearances)[]
- Scott Weinger as Mowgli
- Lupita Nyong'o as Shanti
- Haley Joel Osment as Nathoo
- Mae Whitman as Leila
- Jeremy Irons as Buldeo
- John Goodman as Baloo
- Bob Joles as Bagheera
- Tony Jay as Shere Khan
- Jim Cummings as Kaa, King Louie, Colonel Hathi, and Buzzie the vulture
- Jeff Bennet as Flaps, Dizzy, and Ziggy the vultures
- Phil Collins as Lucky the Vulture
- Clancy Brown as Akela
Conclusion[]
Well, my friends, this is how I would have directed The Jungle Book 2 if I were in charge of the film. In my opinion, this would have been better than what we got in the final product. And, nothing in movies irritates me more than wasted potential. See you later! Thanks for reading!