Based on Disneyland’s theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles but with a supernatural element.
Chuck says:
Let’s get this out of the way right now – there’s not a single original idea in Disney’s latest theme-park inspired feature “Jungle Cruise.” That three screenwriters are listed is astounding for a couple of reasons. It took three people to “write” this?!? Should we refer to them as “writers” or “plunderers” as they obviously cobbled this pastiche together from a myriad of well-known sources? Perhaps it’s time to come up with a new designation for those who fashion projects such as these. Meta-citers? But I digress…
Regardless of all of this, I had more fun with “Cruise” than I thought I would. The very definition of a summer movie, it goes down easy with a large bucket of buttery popcorn and sugary soda, engaging from the first frame to the last. Credit handsome production design, a surprising sense of narrative momentum and the chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, both having a blast and obviously enjoying each other’s company.
Johnson is Frank Wolff, the pun-slinging captain of the decrepit but reliable La Quila, a riverboat that provides tours of the Amazon River in Brazil. Our introduction to him is one that consists of one dad joke after another, each a groaner but effective thanks to the actor’s innate charm. The crusty captain is hired by Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and her brother Macgregor (Jack Whitehall) to take them upriver to find the Tears of the Moon, a mythical plant that supposedly has the capability to cure all diseases and lift all curses.
As you would expect, it’s far from an easy journey as they must contend with hungry cannibals, vicious piranhas and raging rapids, as well as mystical beings with supernatural powers. Oh, and then there’s the matter of Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons), the son of Kaiser Wilhelm, who also happens to be after the Tears of the Moon for far more nefarious reasons. (Note: If there any acting teachers out there who have students in need of learning the dangers of overacting, have them see this film and compare the work of Plemons and Paul Giamatti, who’s also on board as a snarling ship owner after Wolff’s boat. I’m not sure who’s the biggest ham here but I’ll give anyone $20 if they can identify Giamatti’s broad, garbled accent).
A great deal of action occurs on the trip, something director Jaume Collet-Serra is incapable of rendering with any sort of visual coherency. With his camera too close to the performers, scenes of hand-to-hand combat are nothing but a blur, while larger set pieces featuring grand feats of derring-do are undone by a far-too-rapid cutting style that creates chaos rather than clarity. I want to SEE what’s going on, rather than have the action suggested by movements that are truncated or interrupted by incessant editing.
Still and all, “Cruise” avoids the trap that plague nearly all of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, as Collet-Serra at least knows not to overstay his welcome. Whereas the Johnny Depp swashbucklers slogged towards tedium, this feature knows when enough is enough, actually leaving us wanting more. Of course, any future adventures would require Johnson and Blunt to be on board. They are an absolute delight, as the fun they’re having proves infectious. They’re well aware of the trifle they’re in and simply want to viewer to come on the journey with them and have a good time. There’s never been a better time for a piece of well-made escapist entertainment and “Cruise” proudly and answers that call.
3 Stars
Pam says:
Disney’s newest action adventure film “Jungle Cruise,” starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt is big, bold, and…boring. Perhaps it’s just been too long since I’ve been to Disney World and ridden on the theme park ride upon which this entire film is based. Or perhaps the writers forgot to give us a better story.
To read Pam’s review, go to http://reelhonestreviews.com/jungle-cruise-a-disappointment/
