Project X (1987)
Directed by Jonathan Kaplan
Genres - Science Fiction, Comedy |
Sub-Genres - Animal Picture |
Release Date - Apr 17, 1987 (USA) |
Run Time - 108 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - PG
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Project X is a top-secret government undertaking involving trained chimpanzees. Grounded pilot Matthew Broderick, assigned to teach the chimps how to operate a flight simulator, discovers that his charges are to be subjected to high levels of radiation to test potential human endurance. Risking a court martial, Broderick links up with Helen Hunt, the researcher who has taught the chimps sign language, to save the simians from destruction. The serious subtext of Project X is forgotten during a Disneyesque comic finale, wherein the lovable chimps nearly trigger a nuclear meltdown! Without taking anything away from human stars Matthew Broderick and Helen Hunt, we must note that the most engaging performance in Project X is delivered by Willie the Chimp, who aces the challenging role of Virgil the Chimp.
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Themes
Keywords
chimpanzee, flight-simulator, pilot, project [plan], radiation, sign-language, military, nuclear-accident