In this spiffy new version of a 1949 film, director Ron Underwood has fashioned a drama that will entertain the whole family. When Dr. Ruth Young (Linda Purl) is slain trying to defend a family of apes in Tanzania from poachers, her young daughter Jill vows to look after Joe, one of them who is much bigger than his peers thanks to a rare genetic mutation.

The two orphans grow up together on their mountain. The adult Jill (Charlize Theron) keeps the 15-foot Joe out of harm's way until scientist Gregg O'Hara (Bill Paxton) discovers his whereabouts. Soon poachers are on his trail again. To insure Joe's safety, Jill agrees to O'Hara's suggestion that they move the gorilla to a California wildlife preserve.

Mighty Joe Young is structured so that we are rooting for the animal from start to finish. He squares off with Strasser (Rade Sherbedgia), a tenacious adversary who wants to make millions off him on the black market for endangered animals. In the end, the gorilla's heroics in the face of human stupidity, greed, and violence engender our cheers and respect.