‘Born Free’ Marred by Predictability

Will a certain lioness named Elsa survive in the wild after a youth spent in captivity? No, “Born Free: A New Adventure” isn’t a remake of the acclaimed 1966 film about that other Elsa, but Joy Adamson’s story is part of this benign coming-of-age movie, even if the lioness plays a supporting role to an angst-ridden teenage boy.

When Chicago widower Dr. David Thompson (Chris Noth) jumps at a chance to study viruses in Africa, his son Rand (Jonathan Brandis) and daughter (Lea Moreno) aren’t happy.

For at least half the film, Rand, whose dream is a Wall Street career, is rude, insolent and arrogant--a first-class pain in the neck, in fact.

But the surroundings grow on him, thanks to his neighbor, 17-year-old Val (Ariana Richards) and her pet lion, both of whom take an interest in him. When a game warden (John Matshkiza) says Elsa must go to the zoo, Rand and Val, using Adamson’s book as a training manual, attempt to prepare the lion to survive in the wild.

It’s facile and predictable--there’s never any question that Rand will come around, that Dad and Val’s mom (Linda Purl) will overcome their initial antipathy, that Elsa’s release will trigger the swelling notes of the “Born Free” theme.

But the cast is a cut above, including Pamela Nomvette as a teacher who sees beyond Rand’s arrogance and Wandile Molebatse as a little boy who does the same. And the African locale is gorgeous.

* “Born Free: A New Adventure” airs at 8 tonight on ABC (Channels 7 and 3).