The Bottom Line: Hail Jack Black, “King” of the Jungle?

So now Jack Black’s swinging with King Kong. Does that mean the Tenacious D metalhead’s ready to quit monkeying around? 

King Kong marks the first time Black’s shown off his serious side since 1999’s Jesus Son. Since we’re used to the slobby slacker getting messing around with poo or plain Janes it comes as a pleasant surprise to find Black going ape with Oscar darlings Adrien Brody, Naomi Watts and director Peter Jackson. He’s suitably flamboyant and deliciously devious as Carl Denham, the movie producer willing to make millions “at any cost” out of the so-called Eighth Wonder of the World.

Even if this isn’t another Godzilla in the making, Jackson’s terrific remake of the 1933 monster mash still won’t serve as Black’s Truman Show. That prescient reality-TV satire marked a conscious decision by Jim Carrey to prove he could do more than just talk out of his butt. And the rubber-faced funnyman quickly challenged himself again with Man on the Moon.

With King Kong, Black’s goal isn’t as ambitious. This is about staring straight into the eyes of one of cinemas’ most fearsome–and misunderstood–beasts. And the opportunity to work with the genius behind The Lord of the Rings.

And Black must have impressed Jackson, or he would have been booted off Skull Island quicker than Kong can scale the Empire State Building. Remember, Jackson, dissatisfied with Stuart Townsend as The Lord of the Rings’ Aragon, replaced him with Viggo Mortensen.

But it’s probably for the best that Black’s not ready to pull a Carrey.

Black’s yet to establish himself as the heir apparent to John Belushi and Chris Farley with Shallow Hal and Orange County. Yes, he scored a breakout hit with School of Rock. But its success owed as much to Black’s lovable loser as it did to director Richard Linklater’s ability to make that rock master class relevant to Jimmy Page wannabes of all ages. Still, no amount of Vapoorize could mask the stench that emanated from Envy, the get-rich-quick flop that costarred Ben Stiller.

The next true test of Black’s popularity lies with next summer’s Nacho Libre, in which he stars as a priest doubling as a Mexican wrestler. The Jennifer Aniston–Vince Vaughn vehicle The Break Up also opens June 2, so Nacho Libre could be the perfect anecdote for those sick of that celeb couple’s are-they-are-they-aren’t-they? relationship.

Less certain is the fate of Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, in which Black and Kyle Gass assume their alter egos as the greatest novelty band since Spinal Tap. But even if Tenacious D doesn’t rock, Black’s just agreed to go on Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. Well, that certainly offers Black more romantic possibilities than what Skull Island has to offer.

The Bottom Line 
King Kong represents a win-win situation for Black. If it does indeed turn out to be an 800-pound gorilla at the box office, he’ll be at the top of his game. And if it doesn’t, Jackson will take the blame.