‘Jungle Cruise’ Review

After Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, it seemed like Disney had milked every dollar they could have from that franchise, at least from the films with Johnny Depp. So, it only makes sense that Disney would try out another film adaptation of a popular Disney parks attraction. This time, it’s Jungle Cruise. While Jungle Cruise can sometimes feel like a studio desperately trying to launch a new franchise, it has enough action & adventure to make viewing it worthwhile. 

Premise

Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) is seeking a tree deep in the Amazon River which has petals possessing great healing power that could change the future of modern medicine. She seeks the help of Frank (Dwayne Johnson), a shady boat skipper to help lead her and her brother (Jack Whitehall) down the river. However, this petal is linked to a curse in the jungle that creates danger for anyone seeking it. 

Review

Unsurprisingly, the premise really has nothing to do with the ride. There are plenty of nods and references to the ride that will make Disney nerds perk up. I especially liked how the cheesy puns made by the skippers during the ride became a part of Johnson’s character. He makes horrible puns and they are actually quite funny. 

The Rock is charming as always and has great chemistry alongside Blunt. The two bounce jokes off one another really well and has solid emotional scenes together. I wish the film didn’t push them towards an element of their relationship, but it’s not a huge issue. 

Whitehall is good as Blunt’s eccentric brother. Besides providing some comic relief, he isn’t given a ton to do, but he does have moments to shine during the climax. Jesse Plemons is giving the most over-the-top performance as this goofy, German villain. He pops up now and then, and while he does villainous things, it’s hard to totally hate him. 

The actors do a lot to improve the script for Jungle Cruise which feels like a hodgepodge of other adventure films. The characters are basic archetypes with some unique characteristics, but we’ve seen these characters and this type of movie before. Also, the film is trying to be another Pirates of the Caribbean and it’s somewhat obvious from the action, designs of the villains, and the overall plot. 

The plot is simple but becomes overly complicated in the second half. Once it dives deep into the mystical aspects, the movie starts to lose itself. There are some twists and turns that tie the characters to the curse that creates many of the issues, but it absolutely comes out of the left field. The exposition can also feel forced as characters basically pause the movie to barrage the audience with information and flashbacks. 

It also takes its time getting there as this film isn’t paced perfectly. At a certain point, I thought the movie was ending soon, but there was another 40 minutes left to go. It starts very strong but almost comes to a standstill for the second act. 

Luckily, most of it is done well and there is enough visually to keep you intrigued. Director Jaume Collett-Serra definitely does a lot more than the script is asking him with well-choreographed action sequences that contain good slapstick as well. Cinematographer Flavio Martínez Labiano shot a beautiful jungle atmosphere that also fits in with the time period. The dirty brown of the boat and town blend well with the bright and lush colors of the jungle. 

Final Verdict

Jungle Cruise is certainly an enjoyable experience, however, it is not without its flaws. There is plenty of entertainment in the first and third act, but it comes to a halt in the middle. The plot itself also gets too complicated for its own good. However, charismatic characters and creative action sequences help the film achieve its goal of being a memorable action-adventure film.