From genetically enhanced humans in Hanna and Captain America to genetically enhanced pongidae, we encounter the origin story of what begat the Planet of the Apes saga in RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (M).
Will Rodman (James Franco) is a scientist working within a large pharmaceutical corporation, Gen-Sys, conducting genetic research to develop a benign virus that restores damaged human brain tissue. He is committed to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, a disease that afflicts his father, Charles (John Lithgow). Will’s relentless focus has precluded personal relationships, but the connection between his research and Charles’ illness brings the two together, albeit under difficult heart-rending
Just prior to Gen-Sys’ commencement of human trials of a promising and potentially lucrative new drug, ALZ-112, Will’s simian test subjects suddenly display bizarrely aggressive behaviour. Management deems the research a failure and Will must shut down his program.
Amidst the confusion of the study’s sudden termination, Will finds himself charged with an overlooked newborn infant chimpanzee – a male, the newly orphaned offspring of his most promising test subject. That young chimp, destined for greatness, is named Caesar. Due to exposure in the womb to the ALZ-112, young Caesar displays intelligence and behaviours unusual for an ape of any age. Inspired by his observation of Caesar’s unexpected gifts, Will surreptitiously obtains enough samples of ALZ-112 from Gen-Sys, and against his better judgment privately continues his research at home, using his father and Caesar as test subjects.
Over time, with the help of the drug, the chimp exhibits incredible cognitive skills and intellect. At the same time, Charles’ symptoms of Alzheimer’s miraculously go into remission. Will’s bending the rules of laboratory trials seems to have worked beyond his hopes. But as he soon discovers, it has taken him – and ultimately the entire human race – on a ruinous path.
Will takes Caesar to live among other apes within the confines of the San Bruno Primate Sanctuary. But unknown to Will, the “sanctuary” is more like a shoddily run prison – a dumping ground for unwanted or abandoned apes. It is run by Landon (Brian Cox, who starred in director Rupert Wyatt’s debut feature, the acclaimed The Escapist), and Landon’s brutal son.
As an origin story, it’s a good one, and thankfully not an enterprise to merely cash in the chimps. Andy Serkis is terrific as Caesar and major kudos should go to all the simian actors and the wonder wizards from Weta Digital who have done amazing work again.
And watch out for the future tense story snippets and homage from the original movie. How do you get Charlton Heston in? Have someone watching his performance in The Agony and The Ecstasy on TV. And how prescient is having Caesar working on a model of the Statue of Liberty just before his own liberty is taken from him? They even get in the classic line: Get your stinking paws of me you damned, dirty ape. Apesolutely brilliant!
Richard Cotter
8th August, 2011
