Jungle Fever (1991)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Jungle Fever finds Spike Lee tackling timely sociopolitical themes in typically provocative style, even if the result is sometimes ambitious to a fault.
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Movie Info
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Cast
as Flipper Purify
as Angie Tucci
as Cyrus
as Lucinda
as Gator Purify
as Drew
as Paulie
as The Good Reverend Doctor
as Carbone
as Mike Tucci
as Vivian
as Orin Goode
as Vera
as Ming
as Charlie Tucci
as James Tucci
as Vinny
as Sonny
as Patty
as Frankie Botz
as Veeshay
as Denise
as Louise
as Jerry
as Leslie
as Veeshay
as Inez
as Angela
as Officer Long
as Nilda
as Officer Ponte
as Livin' Large
as Iris
as Angela
as Young Panhandler
as Drug Dealer
as Drug Dealer
as Man in Crack Den
as Gentleman in Wheelchair
as Church Lady
as Woman Panhandler
as Crack Lady
as Man on the Street
as Friend of Livin' Large
as Friend of Livin' Large #2
as Frankie
as Boy in Candy Store
as Boy in Candy Store #2
as Lashawn
as Paperboy
as Mouth #1
as Mouth #2
Critic Reviews for Jungle Fever
All Critics (48) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (9)
However diffuse the movie's agenda, it is never less than thoroughly involving.
Strong and powerful, Jungle Fever dares us to be disinterested, dares us to turn away.
It's all too much for Lee to handle. Jungle Fever is overlong, yet he hasn't found the screen time to give each of these people his or her reasons, and even the Snipes and Sciorra characters slip away from him.
It certainly is something to see.
Isn't it refreshing to talk about a thoughtful movie in a summer full of fluff?
Jungle Fever may be a failure, but it is the kind of failure that engenders hope: It finds Lee refining the skills he already possesses and striking out in encouraging new directions.
Audience Reviews for Jungle Fever
What we have here is Spike Lee's thematic sequel to Do The Right Thing. While ultimately an exploration of inner city life for different cultural, economic, and racial groups, the main focus is on the consequences, repercussions, and attitudes towards interracial relationships. The film has noble ambitions and aims, but a lot of the strength is undermined primarily by some surprisingly untimely music cues from Stevie Wonder and a really bloated, meandering run time. I liked how the film explored the issue of mixed dating from different viewpoints, but I found it odd how it neglects to really capture the situation from the perspective of the two main parties: a well to do black architect, and his working class Italian secretary. Aside from mixed dating, the film does take a more general look at big city life, with special attention paid to crack addiction. The film is extremely well shot, with some well used camera moves (including a ripping long take), and, despite being flawed, does offer a great amount of substance and food for thought. It also contains some terrific performances from a notable ensemble cast, which includes names like Wesley Snipes, Anna Sciorra, Anthony Quinn, Spike Lee, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, John Turturro, and briefer appearances from Brad Dourif, Tim Robbins, Queen Latifah, Halle Berry (this being the debut for those latter two), as well as a breakout turn from Samuel L. Jackson as the crackhead Gator. All in all, the film is kind of a mess, but it does have its moments, so yeah, give it a go.
Super Reviewer
For some reason I don't seem to ever watch a Spike Lee film in one sitting. The only ones I did were Do the Right Thing and Clockers. I did two sittings for this one, it's not a bad thing, but I just feel a lack of concentration when he does extended intimate portraits on his characters. Anyways, this 'joint' didn't feel like it dragged on, nor did it feel too short but I felt by the end of it that the central theme was slightly forgotten about. I think that's because all the supporting characters (especially Samuel L Jackson) are just so much more interesting than the central two.
Super Reviewer
This was made before I started sighing during Spike Lee movies. I thought the performances here were fabulous.
Super Reviewer
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