The films beginning focuses on Will Rodman, a scientist played by James Franco, fighting to cure Alzheimer's disease to save his ailing father Charles, played by John Lithgow, who gives the best of the human performances as a man losing the battle with Alzheimer's. Franco underplays his role, and seems barely present at times. Freida Pinto is gorgeous as always, here playing Francos love interest and fellow scientist Caroline Aranha, although she doesn't serve much purpose in the film.
The Rodmans end up in the charge of Caesar, a chimpanzee born of Will's gene therapy experiments, with radically enhanced intelligence. After several years of living as a human, and part of the Rodman family, Caesar is remanded to a Primate Sanctuary after attacking a neighbor that was threatening the elder Rodman.
Enter John Landon (Brian Cox), the man in charge of the facility where Caesar and other apes are kept and abused by his son and ape wrangler Dodge Landon (a nod to the original 1968 film, here played by Tom Felton). Cox here is wasted completely. It's not his fault, he's just given nothing to do! I do find it interesting that while Felton's Harry Potter co stars have been trying to preemptively break free of typecasting, Felton's first post Potter release has him basically playing the same role he's been playing for ten years. Minus the cool magic.
If the humans in film are a little underwhelming, it's forgiven, because the apes make up for it in spades. Credit must be given to the insanely talented people at WETA, and the always amazing Andy Serkis. While not all of the shots look photo real, when they hit the mark it's breathtaking. The range of emotion on display by Serkis' motion capture, and the intensely human expressions, make Caesar come alive. You can see and feel his pain. He becomes a point of introspection for the audience, in how we perceive living creatures. The realism of Caesar makes this film a character study on par with anything that has come out this year.
The last act is where the film picks up the pace and shows us the man vs. apes scenes that I have been holding my geek-breath for. It was worth the wait. Not at all done in an over the top fashion, nor done with excessive gimmicks or cliches, it is a thrilling and exciting climax. Caesar's development through the film gives the finale something that we rarely get enough of in summer action films...meaning and reason. There is a clear motivation for what we are seeing on screen. I promise, when you see it you will not be rooting for the humans. Caesar is a very real and sympathetic character whom we wish to see overcome the odds and to be free.
In the end I was left desperately wanting more. The film ends with a slight attempt to set up a sequel, but as forced as it seems I have to say, I want a sequel. ROTPOTA is the best film of the summer. A heartfelt character study as well as an action packed adventure that does what so few do; leaves your eyes wide and your mind open.
*** 1/2
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