Jungle Cruise review

JUNGLE CRUISE: 

DISNEY ATTRACTION TURNED FEATURE FILM IS A JOLLY, SWASHBUCKLING ADVENTURE! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

DISNEY

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in Jungle Cruise

 

            In the tradition of beloved Disney Parks attractions turned feature films that became popular with the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003, Disney brings the world of Jungle Cruise to the screen…with of course, Dwayne Johnson (Race to Witch Mountain, Fast & Furious franchise, Jumanji 2 and 3) in the jungle yet again! The film was originally scheduled for a 2020 theatrical release, but like most films released that year it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic until finally getting a Summer 2021 theatrical release and s simultaneous Disney+ Premier Access release. 

            It looked fine judging by the trailers, though I personally felt Hollywood has a very strange fascination with putting The Rock in a jungle-like setting with films like The Rundown, Journey 2 the Mysterious Island, Rampage, and especially the Jumanji sequels. It seemed like it was just going to be another one of those only this time he’s bringing Emily Blunt (Edge of Tomorrow, A Quiet Place: Parts 1 and 2, Mary Poppins Returns) along for the ride. 

            That’s pretty much what I got, and keep in mind, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It doesn’t do much new with the adventure genre, but for those looking for a goofy, popcorn movie with two extremely likable and charming leads guiding the way, then you’ll have a wonderful time with this film. 

            The best way I can describe it is a mix between a less edgy Indiana Jones, The Mummy (1999), and the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It never takes itself seriously, it’s just a fun, light-hearted, fast-paced (especially for a film that’s over 2 hours) adventure with The Rock and Emily Blunt. 

            Set in 1916, the film follows researcher, Dr. Lily Houghton (Blunt) who enlists the help of wisecracking skipper, Frank Wolff (Johnson) and his ramshackle boat to take her from London, England to the Amazon jungle in search for this magic tree with leaves that have unparalleled healing abilities known as the Tears of the Moon. Along the way, they encounter innumerable dangers and supernatural forces around every corner of the jungle on their quest as well as an evil German aristocrat known as Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons-Black Mass, Game Night, Judas and the Black Messiah) who’s searching for the tree as well in hopes to gain immortality so he can rule forever. 

            The film also stars Jack Whitehall (Bad Education (TV series), The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, Clifford the Big Red Dog) as Lily’s brother and reluctant assistant, McGregor, Édgar Ramírez (Domino, Vantage Point, Carlos) as Aguirre, Paul Giamatti (American Splendor, Sideways, Straight Outta Compton) as Nilo Nemolato, Veronica Falcón (Queen of the South, Perry Mason, Ozark) as Trader Sam, Dani Rovira (100 Meters, Ozzy, Superlópez) as Sancho, and Andy Nyman (Kick-Ass 2, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon) as Sir James-Hobbs Coddington. 

            Overall, Jungle Cruise is a cheesy but fun throwback to 90s adventure films like The Mummy (1999) among others, and easily the second-best feature film based on a Disney ride after the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It’s the kind of movie where you sit down with your whole family, munch on some popcorn, laugh at the jokes, get excited during the action, and be in awe when looking at the film’s sweeping visuals, much like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level where it isn’t all that original, but even if in its familiarity, the film is still an enjoyable and charming romp. 

            If you’ve seen films like The Rundown, Journey 2 the Mysterious Island, or the Jumanji sequels then you pretty much know what you’re getting, a basic, run of the mill adventure movie that doesn’t try to be anything more than simple popcorn entertainment, which it is very good at! It’s a familiar treasure hunt adventure that borrows elements from Indiana Jones, The Mummy with Brendan Fraser, Pirates of the Caribbean, and even a bit of National Treasure. 

            With all the high-seas ship sailing and swordplay, the highlight of this movie really is the chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt who are absolutely wonderful together. Both are basically polar opposites of one another, you got Blunt as this adventurous woman venturing in this brand-new land and Johnson as this cynical but warm-hearted sailor, just listening to the banter between the two is ironically a little more fun than the actual action sequences, both of them get a lot of laughs and you enjoy seeing the adventure unfold through their perspectives. 

            I also got a kick out of Jesse Plemons as this classic, mustache-twirling villain, it sounds like he’s having a lot of fun chewing the scenery whenever he’s onscreen. Not to mention, it’s one of those rare times where Plemons speaks with a German accent and it’s both surreal and extremely funny at the same time. 

            Despite being ripped straight from Pirates of the Caribbean, I enjoyed the cursed conquistadors a lot as well, which are basically this film’s version of the undead army from Pirates of the Caribbean. One of them is made up entirely of snakes, another out of plants and roots, and another is literally just some dude covered in honey and bees (Disappointed it wasn’t Nicolas Cage though!), these are some very imaginative antagonists and I liked seeing these creatures in action whenever they show up.

            Most of this “Jungle Cruise” is smooth sailing, but I found the climax to be rather underwhelming and not nearly as interesting as the actual treasure hunt. It’s a pretty standard battle in a dark cave that isn’t bad, just nothing special. 

            Aside from that, Jungle Cruise is a relatively enjoyable popcorn film for the whole family, it’s got action, silly dialogue, imaginative worlds and creatures, and two extremely likable leads as your guides. Pirates may still hold the top spot as the best film based on a Disney ride, but this boat ride through the jungle is a good time to be had, don’t expect it to be the next Jungle Book (2016), think of it more as a continuation of what Disney did with George of the Jungle back in 1997.