To start, I’ll say, I didn’t see this film in the best mind-set but the power of film, those 2 hrs and 7mins in the dark, can be a true therapy. If you can watch a film that can even produce a modicum of happiness, then it’s worth seeing.
Jaume Collet-Serra had previously directed House of Wax (2005) and Orphan (2009). So, you can imagine my surprise when I heard he was listed as director for Disney’s latest offering; Jungle Cruise, which tells the story of explorer and scientist, Lily (Emily Blunt) and her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) who are in search of a mythical flower which dwells deep Amazon and that has the power to cure any illness.
They enlist the help of Frank (Dwayne Johnson) who is a captain of a nippy boat and knows the Amazon like the back of his hand. They all must evade Nilo (Paul Giamatti) a wealthy boat owner, Aguirre (Edgar Ramírez) a Conquistador and Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons) German royalty.
Lily owns an artifact that can lead them to the tree that bares those flowers of great power. Can they evade Nilo, run from Aguirre and make it there before Prince Joachim, all who want Lily’s artifact?
The title of the film gets its name from a ride in the Disney theme parks, which, I was fortunate to ride on in Florida. The gist of the ride is that you are on a jungle cruise, you sail on a pre-planned route passed animals and natives, yet the best experience of the ride is the captain of the ship who cracks-wise and makes corny jokes. This was mirrored in the film as this is Frank’s job and his ‘lame’ jokes are littered throughout the film. I don’t mind admitting, the tickled me on more than one occasion.
It’s a great plot, and to be honest, not what I expected. It feels like The Mummy (1999) meets Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Could you ask for a better mash-up? Well, this has Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in it. OK he’s not the best actor, but he always brings a great level of comedy, warmth and believability to every character he plays and Frank is no different.
Jack Whitehall steals the show playing Lily’s brother MacGregor, he’s the comic relief as he plays an uptight English toff who is fearful of the Jungle and all that exists within it. He also allows the film to open a tiny discussion on gender and sexuality, so look for that.
Emily Blunt is consistently fantastic in anything she’s in most recently seen, in the mainstream, in A Quiet Place Part II (2020). In Jungle Cruise she plays a headstrong scientist from England who will never take no for an answer, she says “anything she wants to anyone”. Her character plays off the mostly placid Frank and the chemistry between herself and Frank is palpable and wholly believable.
Jesse Plemons’ Prince Joachim and Paul Giamatti’s Nilo are the most eccentric characters I have seen on screen for a while and that’s what I want from a Disney film. It’s fantasy. It’s eccentric.
This film has some decent CGI, some great stunts and felt like an older style action flick. It is a lot of fun especially if you’ve had a hard day, week, month or year.
This is great fun and adventure for children and families as well as those who, as previously mentioned, grew up watching The Mummy and Indiana Jones. Go and see it!!! It’s currently in cinemas nationwide and on Disney+ Premier.
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