Born Wild Reviews

BORN WILD is a family-oriented documentary showcasing the work of African naturalist and cinematographer John Varty. The film follows up 1986's LAND OF THE LEOPARD in which Varty and his native friend Elmon Mhlongo studied a female leopard in the Londolozi Game Reserve for 12 years. Whereas LAND OF THE LEOPARD was a straightforward documentary (ending with the birth of two leopard cubs), BORN WILD tacks on a fictional story about an eager young filmmaker Christine Shaye (Brooke Shields). Shaye's studio boss (Martin Sheen) wants another OUT OF AFRICA, but Christine believes the public will patronize a nonfiction feature about the two leopard cubs, now orphaned after their mother's fatal fight (offscreen) with a lioness. With leopards facing extinction, documentarian Varty breaks his policy of noninterference with nature and takes over raising the cats, whom he dubs Little Boy and Little Girl. Adorable though they may be, the leopards spell trouble, whether they're knocking over an oil lamp and burning valuable film or tempting greedy black marketeers. Varty and Mhlongo relocate the duo to friendlier Masai tribal territory--where, unfortunately, a crocodile devours Little Boy. Ultimately, Little Girl is released in Zambia. Brooke Shields, very much a third wheel throughout the narrative, haphazardly copes with the naturalist's lifestyle while arranging finance and supplies with her Tinseltown "base camp," unaware that a jealous co-worker (David Keith) has been sabotaging her heroic efforts. Nonetheless, the whole Christine Shaye subplot seems a specious gimmick to inject a guest star into the proceedings. There should be drama enough in Varty's work with the leopards, and viewers truly interested in African flora and fauna probably won't care one iota about the Hollywood flotsam and jetsam. (Profanity.)