Thirty-four years after Born Free's cuddly cubs reduced audiences to blubbering wrecks, a sequel arrives that thankfully abandons the tack for a more action/adventure approach. Harris, likewise, graces his portrayal of real-life conservationist George Adamson with a gritty edge -the plot tracing his stubborn twilight years and eventual murder by Somalian bandits - while a solid supporting cast adroitly pad out a limited back story.
As sumptuous as the scenery is, Harris typically chomps his way through it, dominating the screen with a presence that has barely faded over his 67-film career. Indeed, it's a presence that is essential to the success of the product - suffering, as it does, from some dreadful miscasting and an over-reliance on cinematography to mask lapses in momentum.