It's probably not a coincidence that the title "I Dreamed of Africa" sounds so much like "Out of Africa," since this lackluster drama so clearly wishes it was that 1985 Oscar winner or something even remotely close to it. Instead, it's little more than "David Lean Lite," a spectacular, epic wannabe that gets the beautiful surroundings right but little else.
The results aren't completely awful. In fact, thanks to some very spectacular wildlife photography (by cinematographer Bernard Lutic), the film even becomes somewhat watchable at times.
But considering ithis is what star Kim Basinger picked this to follow up her Oscar-winning supporting turn in "L.A. Confidential," the film has got to be considered at least a minor disappointment.
And then there's the fact that it doesn't really do justice to the story of conservationist Kuki Gallmann, whose memoirs serve as the source material.
The film picks up her story as an adult when she was living in Italy. Having survived a traumatic car accident and suffering from a serious case of doldrums, she and new husband Paolo (Vincent Perez) decide to take their son Emanuele (Liam Aiken) and relocate to a ranch in Africa.
Living in Kenya presents a whole new set of challenges to the family. Though they quickly become "native," they still have to come to terms with the wildlife and the poachers who prey on it.
And while Paolo and Emanuele find ways to deal with their restlessness — for the former, it's heading off on hunting expeditions; for the latter, it's going off to a stiff-lipped British boarding school — Kuki isn't so fortunate.
So she decides to become more proactive, first by aiding the local tribesmen and then by organizing efforts to fight the poachers. In that way, she finds contentment, even when tragedy strikes her family.
A lot of filmmakers would kill for material like this, so it would seem like a natural for Hugh Hudson, who directed 1981's "Chariots of Fire." But he hasn't exactly set the world on fire since he directed that Oscar-winner (among his subsequent flops are 1986's "Revolution" and, from last year, "My Life So Far"). And this one's similarly disappointing.
Also, the cliche-ridden script (by Paula Milne and Susan Shilliday) ends the story at possibly its most interesting point, which is pretty frustrating. (Hopefully this doesn't signal that a sequel is coming.)
However, the film's biggest problem may actually be Basinger, who plays Gallmann as a nearly bloodless creation. It's especially hard to really care about the character when her lines are delivered in a surprisingly flat monotone (particularly her clunky voice-over narration, which is awful).
In response, the supporting cast tries to buoy things up, particularly Perez and Aiken, though it's probably not worth the effort.
"I Dreamed of Africa" is rated PG-13 for violence (animal attacks and gunfire), gore (including shots of slaughtered animals), partial male and female nudity, as well as some nude artwork, a pair of profanities and a brief sex scene. Running time: 112 minutes.
You can reach Jeff Vice by e-mail at jeff@desnews.com