THE LAST LIONS

THE LAST LIONS gives you an involving story of a lioness and her cubs struggling to survive in Botswana. Its wildlife scenes can draw you deeply into the family's danger, especially as the lions confront fierce water buffalo and repeated setbacks.

But the film's structure is frustrating. Just when survival seems possible, another setback arrives, often immediately, making the narrative less involving than it could be. The documentary also presents environmental concerns without a God-centered view of Creation, and it apparently exaggerates some population statistics.

The strongest barrier is the content rating. Strong animal violence and intense, very sad moments may depress impressionable children. Adults who can handle those scenes may find real value here, but this is not a family viewing choice. The practical answer: adults may take the trip, but children and young teens should sit this one out.

Narrated by Jeremy Irons, this documentary follows a lioness and her two surviving cubs in Botswana, Africa. After finding sanctuary on a large island surrounded by a river, the family still must find food. Their only real opportunity is a dangerous herd of water buffalo led by a powerful scar-faced bull.

Three stars means THE LAST LIONS is involving and worthwhile, but noticeably short of its potential. The central story of the lioness and her cubs draws viewers in, and the documentary's concern for the declining African lion population gives it a clear purpose.

The weakness is the story structure. The repeated pattern of hope followed almost immediately by another setback makes the narrative less involving than it could be, and sometimes irritating. The result is a documentary that becomes compelling in places without fully sustaining that power.

THE LAST LIONS pleads for help saving the African lion, but it does not offer a God-centered view of Creation to support that plea. The story is presented largely through Darwinian survival, and God is not mentioned. At one point, when the narrator considers the lioness and her cubs' fate, he refers to gods rather than the One True God.

The film does draw attention to environmental concerns and the decline of the lion population. However, the review says it exaggerates the decline over the last 50 years by increasing the estimated earlier number of lions, apparently for political purposes. The content section also identifies very strong environmentalist content and an implied evolutionary attitude.

The film can encourage concern for living creatures, but it removes that concern from a biblical account of creation and stewardship. Scripture says, “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1).

THE LAST LIONS is an involving but uneven documentary with a worthwhile concern for Africa’s lions. Its strong animal violence and intense sadness make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For family viewing, choose something else.