Based on a television series from the sixties, this crazy adventure was led by Brendan Fraser before his stardom upon The Mummy movies. It’s the first collaboration between Shaiman (as composer and arranger), with Sam Weisman, before The Out-of-Towners and their (and unfortunately, possible the last) attempt of collaboration together, What's The Worst That Could Happen?. The main theme from the television series turns out to be adapted in three different songs, and opening one in the cd release, performed by the band The Presidents of the United States of America. The CD (out of print) contains songs from artists as Johnny Clegg and Savuka, The Surfaris…, as well as a version of the classic My Way, under Shaiman's arrangement (and performed by John Cleese), and a mix of the main song. Some songs from the movie are not included in the compact disc.

About the original score composed by Marc Shaiman, its necessary to emphisize that it’s near a tragedy that the official soundtrack release only includes 3 tracks (less than seven minutes). A real sorrow, since we can say that it is a superb score, one of Shaiman´s best unreleased scores.

The music contains some main themes that I will enumerate later. But beyond them and the necessary variations, Shaiman's work is dominated by a funny sound, as crazy as the movie, a constant underlining music, tireless and vibrant, of surprising malleability to the images, which is known as "mickey-mousing". But in Shaiman (and this score is a great example), this mickey-mousing, this incidental music, turns out to be retentive and melodic, so that in great and varied comical and exciting tracks of a complete and complex work as this, there are motives and very different tunes, and they give a good chance to the composer to have fun leaving his talent flow too high. In fact, Shaiman incorporates along these varied tunes of vibrant and comical underling, some resources, such percussions, sounds of birds and other animals, jazzy tunes into a burlesque spirit, a waltz, a cha-cha-cha, oriental tunes (ninja apes) or a modern pop rhythmic base, etc. It is a brilliant aspect in Shaiman: his incidental music (and perfectly adjusted to the action), is simultaneously melodic, memorable and retentive, so you can also enjoy it out of the movie.

About the main themes, those of a main role and that are perfectly fused by other already mentioned tunes, we can stand out:

1. Main theme from George of the Jungle. It’s the Stan Worth y Sheldon Allman original theme from 1967. Used along the work, incorporated into a brief form in many occasions, and as link of union among own Shaiman motives, and under a sound almost of a superhero. This theme uses always the notes into a limited way and granting a new and exciting dimension (and also comical, because of the awkward of the main character). It is possible to say that Shaiman "reinvents" this theme.
2. Ursula's theme. We can consider it to be the love theme, delicate and romantic. In its comical version this theme carries us to Tchaikoski´s Romeo and Juliet.
3. Little Monkey´s theme. A sweet tune composed for this character.
4. George Runs. It’s the most memorable theme. Exciting and very showy, it resembles in some notes to the main theme from The American President. This theme appears in George's sequence running with his slippers across the jungle, as well in the Golden Gate´s rescue. It knows romantic variants, as well as vibrant versions with and excellent rhythmic base and choirs, as well as the appearance of the love theme (Ursula´s theme).

You must see this movie to get the right value of this sensational score, where one notices that Shaiman has enjoyed working on. A score that can be considered to be one of his best, a whole success and some big achievements and great tunes that hook the listener into a dizzy roller coaster. Its necessary and urgent edition of the complete score. The movie knew a late sequel of very low results, with music from an excellent composer: J.A.C. Redford and additional music from Stu Goldberg.

8.5 (Rank for the unreleased score, not the official CD release)