Synopsis
A young inductee into the military is given the task of looking after some chimpanzees used in the mysterious 'Project X'. Getting to know the chimps fairly well, he begins to suspect there is more to the secret project than he is being told.
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Cast
- Matthew BroderickJimmy Garrett
- Helen HuntTeri Macdonald
- WillieVirgil
- William SadlerDr. Carroll (as Bill Sadler)
- Johnny Ray McGheeRobertson
- Jonathan StarkSgt. Krieger
- Robin GammellCol. Niles
- Stephen LangWatts
- Jean SmartDr. Criswell
- Pamela LudwigLenore
Recommendations
- 90
Chicago Reader
Plenty of strikes against this--moronic story line, obligatory animal mugging, more "awwwww" opportunities than any film since 3 Men and a Cradle--but it's still one of the most accomplished pulp fantasies in a while...When everything finally comes together, it works wonderfully well. - 80
Washington Post
The suspense drama is based on real-life military monkey tests, and it's as unabashedly political as "Silkwood" and unashamedly sentimental as "Lassie Come Home." Yet it remains taut and resists the temptation to paint the villains too broadly. - 75
Chicago Sun-Times
Project X is not a great movie because its screenplay doesn't really try for greatness. It's content to be a well-made, intelligent entertainment aimed primarily, I imagine, at bright teenagers. It works on that level. - 75
TV Guide Magazine
There's practically nothing wrong with PROJECT X. Broderick is superb as always and proves that he is a commanding screen presence even in the company of a cute chimp. Hunt also turns in a fine performance. Surprisingly, even the film's bad guy (Bill Sadler) has some redeeming qualities, preventing the script from becoming patently simpleminded. - 75
Chicago Tribune
There's something delicious in the way Kaplan, who has been working carefully and naturalistically, suddenly gives in to the excess the screenplay has been inviting all along--the shudder of pleasure that comes with a loss of control. Making a movie isn't only a question of doing everything right, but also of knowing when to make a meaningful misstep. [17 Apr 1987, p.A] - 70
The Hollywood Reporter
A combination of exposé on Air Force experiments with chimpanzees and cuddly pet story, Project X should fly high as family entertainment. - 60
The New York Times
a young folks' story, a sweet-natured boy-and-his-chimp tale (even the bad guys aren't all that bad), with a dose of Animal Liberation to give the impression that something of current signficance is going on. - 60
Variety
If nothing else, Project X is the ultimate film for monkey lovers. Some quite endearing chimpanzees share center stage with Matthew Broderick for nearly two hours here, and while they, and he, are engaging enough to watch, picture lets its manipulative strings show too clearly.
