Cunningly contrived to make the maximum appeal to the emotions in its last 30 minutes, this is an escape story with a difference. An intelligent chimp, trained for three years by a university researcher (Helen Hunt), somehow ends up with a dozen other chimps at a USAF secret project base where, under the tutelage of Jimmy (Matthew Broderick), he learns to fly a simulated aircraft, It wouldn't be fair to the plot to reveal more; suffice to say that the time comes when, with the chimps' lives at stake, Broderick and Hunt meet up and resolve to do something about it. Although slow in parts, the story picks up a good deal in the last three reels, the emotive charge of James Horner's music cleverly reinforcing the impact of the escalating action. Broderick and Hunt are good enough, and supporting characters nicely drawn by Robin Gammell, Bill Sadler and Jonathan Stark. The chimps are simply amazing, especially Willie, the one trained in sign language and flying, Karanja and Luke, who play three of the leading animals. They'll draw many a tear from those of sentimental inclination before and during the silly but touching climax.


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