Jungle Jim, the first film in Johnny Weissmuller's "other" movie series, is a fairly dull and essentially routine jungle adventure. Although Weissmuller's Tarzan may not have represented the last word in screen acting, Weissmuller was able to invest that role with a certain presence; certainly, his physique and athleticism helped, but he also brought a raw energy and a commitment to Tarzan that is largely absent in Jim. His performance is fairly wooden -- although to be honest, the unimaginative script, drab dialogue and cardboard characters would defeat even a much more skilled actor. And while Weissmuller still looks pretty good compared to most people, he starts to show his age in Jim. There's a little middle age spread that, though no rubber tire, is surprising to see. William A. Berke's direction is of no help to either the star or the script; he seems to be concerned solely with getting the thing on film and has no time for niceties like pacing or innovation. Indeed, some of the pacing is so inept that scenes that were built to create tension tend to simply tire the viewer out. There's some nice villainy from George Reeves, and a few other good moments here and there, but for the most part Jim is frankly boring.