MVP: Most Valuable Primate

How does Jack, a chimpanzee with the IQ of a genius, end up living in the frozen North and playing hockey on a kids' junior hockey team? It all starts with the unfortunate demise of the professor who trains and cares for him and the dean's plans to sell Jack to a research facility. Jack's somewhat slow-witted janitor friend puts Jack on a train bound for the El Simian reserve, but he sleeps through his stop and winds up in a small Canadian town instead. Jack quickly befriends Tara Westover, a deaf girl recently transplanted from California, and her brother Steven. Mishaps abound as Jack attempts to blend into the town, but eventually he joins Steven on the local hockey team--as its star player! Can Jack turn around the team's dismal record? Can Steven and Tara prevent the dean from catching up with Jack and sending him to the research lab?

This is a touching story about a close-knit, functional family and its interaction with a smart, adorable chimp. While this 93-minute film does contain some fairly violent hockey scenes, it is for the most part wholesome family entertainment that celebrates such values as open-mindedness, caring, and compassion. The chimps are thoroughly entertaining, and Kevin Zegers (Steven) and Jamie Renée Smith (Tara) do a nice job with their roles. Ages 5 and up. --Tami Horiuchi

ccFeature-length audio commentary by director Robert Vince, stars Jamie Rene Smith and Kevin Zegers, and trainer Carol Lille
Behind-the-scenes documentary: "The Chimp's a Champ: The Making of a Star Hockey Player"
Interactive menus
Theatrical trailer
Scene access

A chimp learns the blue lines rules of hockey (which is more than can be said for many fans) in this family oriented comedy from the creative team behind Air Bud. Jack is a three-year-old chimpanzee who has been the subject of a long-term experiment by Dr. Kendall (Lomax Study), a researcher who been teaching Jack to communicate through sign language. Jack, however, has not been making progress fast enough for Dr. Kendall's sponsor, Dr. Peabody (Oliver Muirhead), who has cut off his funding and sold Jack to a medical research lab. Afraid of what could happen to his simian friend, Dr. Kendall sneaks Jack out of his home in the lab; however, Jack is accidentally sent to Canada, where he gets loose and is discovered by Tara (Jamie Renee Smith), a deaf girl who recognizes Jack's sign language. Jack has an even bigger surprise for Tara's older brother Steven (Kevin Zegers); Jack scrambles onto the ice in the midst of practice for Steven's junior league hockey team, and he and his teammates discover the monkey has a natural talent for the game. With Jack on the team, Steven's team is on their way to a league championship, but Jack's notoriety attracts the unfortunate attention of Dr. Peabody, who are determined to send Jack back to his new owners. Jack is played on screen by three different chimps, Bernie, Mac, and Louie; the suppoirting cast also features former SCTV regular Dave Thomas. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

• Side #1 --
  • Play Movie
  • Scene Selections
  • Special Features
    • Cast & Crew
    • Commentary by Director Robert Vince
    • The Chimp's a Champ: The Making of a Star Hockey Player
    • Trailer
  • Languages
    • Soundtracks: English
    • Soundtracks: Espaol
    • Commentary by Director Robert Vince

Side #1 --
1. Good Morning (Credits). [3:15]
2. Lonely and Sad. [4:14]
3. Good Night. [3:12]
4. First Scrimmage. [3:00]
5. Bad News. [2:38]
6. Stranger on a Train. [4:39]
7. Unfair Play. [3:26]
8. Cleaning Up. [5:00]
9. Monkey in the Woods. [3:10]
10. A New Friend. [3:16]
11. Into the Closet. [2:54]
12. Breakfast Gift. [5:02]
13. Quick Study on Ice ("It Feels Like Magic"). [2:52]
14. Call to Disorder. [2:55]
15. Suiting Up ("Coolest Looking Dude on Ice"). [4:06]
16. The Natural. [2:41]
17. Power Player. [3:34]
18. Way to Go. [3:41]
19. Good Buddies. [4:48]
20. Net Check. [2:03]
21. The Big Time. [3:19]
22. Chimp Wanted. [2:56]
23. Saving Jack. [3:06]
24. The Winning Goal. [3:58]
25. On His Way. [3:29]
26. Family Reunion. [1:35]
27. Dedication and End Credits ("It Feels Like Magic," "Clear Sailing"). [3:42]