Sit back, relax and get into the glorious adventure that is Sheena, a classic comic strip that gets a glorious film treatment in the era of Indiana Jones, a more adult Tarzan and Buckaroo Banzai. This is a female super hero whom men will root for, not only for the buxom presence of Tanya Roberts but her belief in good must prevail over evil, that a kiss is asked for (even though up to that time she only believed that the mouth was only used for speaking and eating), and that her friends, the jungle animals, are kinder than people.
Brought up by an African shaman (Elizabeth of Toro), she is thrust into the political turmoil over the assassination of the king (by his own brother!) and his double-crossing girlfriend, and finds love with American reporter Ken Wahl whom she introduces to adventure.
This is beautifully filmed with lots of lush nature scenes and friendly lions, a treat on a big screen. Roberts is not out to prove that she's a great dramatic actress, but someone with years of stage training would lack the innocence that the roles required. She has awkward pauses between lines, and perhaps her English is too perfect for an orphaned girl brought up in the jungle, but she delivers lines like "I see your death in my eyes" with great oomph, if not passion.
I would have liked to have seen more of Elizabeth of Toru as she makes the most of her small part with great wit and intelligence. Wahl is appropriately handsome and virile, but it's not a really well defined role. Lots of villains to hiss and majestic scenery to ooh and ah at, and plenty of opportunities to cheer as the villains get their comeuppance.
Brought up by an African shaman (Elizabeth of Toro), she is thrust into the political turmoil over the assassination of the king (by his own brother!) and his double-crossing girlfriend, and finds love with American reporter Ken Wahl whom she introduces to adventure.
This is beautifully filmed with lots of lush nature scenes and friendly lions, a treat on a big screen. Roberts is not out to prove that she's a great dramatic actress, but someone with years of stage training would lack the innocence that the roles required. She has awkward pauses between lines, and perhaps her English is too perfect for an orphaned girl brought up in the jungle, but she delivers lines like "I see your death in my eyes" with great oomph, if not passion.
I would have liked to have seen more of Elizabeth of Toru as she makes the most of her small part with great wit and intelligence. Wahl is appropriately handsome and virile, but it's not a really well defined role. Lots of villains to hiss and majestic scenery to ooh and ah at, and plenty of opportunities to cheer as the villains get their comeuppance.