Recontexualizing Cornelius and Zira as the ultimate protagonists of the series so far is an inspired call, especially after the last film seemed to have a rather permanent end for it all. McDowall and Hunter put so much humanity into these characters and so much love in the relationship between them, you can’t help but fall for them. And as flawed as their initial efforts were, they stand as the foremost characters who meet difference with curiosity and empathy. It makes the film all the more charming and all the more tragic.

The first half is full of winning character moments and surprising levity, getting a few chuckles out of me. The second half pays off that investment in a devastating turn. The cast all around pull you in. Dillman is as likable as Cornelius and Zira say. Windom’s president walks a fine line between pragmatism and sentimentality. And Braeden elevates Hasslein. I know he wasn’t too fond of the role, but he makes the most of the material to keep the character from caricature. He takes no pleasure in all this, but feels in his fear and responsibility that it must be done. He gets a speech that would usually be saved for a hero, on how humanity’s excuses of saving things for later like pollution and nuclear war may damn us all, and it lends even him a certain kind of tragedy much in the lens of Zaius. Then there’s Montalban who wins you over with his first line and I’m so eager to see more of.

It’s not as exciting and propulsive as it could be, but in terms of its thoughtfulness it lives up to the first with aplomb, and the series continues to refuse easy happy endings. It’s a mission statement you have to respect three films in. This one balances that inherent pessimism by being the most human yet. Nobody’s a monster here, all trying to do what they think is right, and that human fear leads to heartbreaking consequences.