Rebecca’s Take
Remember when, not too long ago, the summer movie season was filled with epic blockbusters? The larger-than-life spectacles provided a welcome escape from the doldrums of our daily lives as we happily munched on our popcorn and stared up at the movie screen.
Last summer, the coronavirus pandemic took that respite away from us, pushing back several high-profile films until this year. One of those films was “Jungle Cruise,” Disney’s swashbuckling blockbuster based on its popular theme park ride. As I sat in the theater surrounded by eager families, “Jungle Cruise” reminded me of how much fun it is to watch these mighty films on the big screen.
The rollicking, family-friendly adventure, available in theaters and for a premium fee on Disney Plus, charts an utterly delightful journey from start to finish. With its lush visuals, dynamic leads and good humor, “Jungle Cruise” rises above its derivative story to give adults and children a grand old time at the movies.
The film is set in the early 20th century during World War I. Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) is convinced the Tears of the Moon, a legendary tree whose petals can heal any sickness, is real. Desperate to find it and use it to help others, the determined Lily and her devoted brother, MacGregor (Jack Whitehall), seek a tour guide to take them along the Amazon River. Enter the gruff Frank Wolff (Johnson), a boat guide who gives jungle tours to travelers. The unlikely trio must face the jungle’s dangerous creatures, deadly natives and nefarious rival in Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons), who is also seeking the mythological tree.
The fast-paced “Jungle Cruise” moves at a mile a minute. The adventure delivers steady action from the get-go, starting with a stealthy robbery that showcases Blunt’s action pedigree. The film unleashes daring chases, wild river shenanigans, and an exciting third act that features water, a cave and swords, set to James Newton Howard’s rousing score. The stunning visuals highlight the colorful jungle and real-looking CGI animals. There’s enough here to keep adults and kids entertained during its two-hour-and-7-minute runtime.
The blockbuster stars Johnson and Blunt, two of the biggest actors working today. Both know what kind of movie they’re in and readily commit to the over-the-top story. Johnson is as magnetic as ever as Frank rattles off one hilarious pun after the other, repeatedly saves tourists and commands the boat amid churning waters. But the role also allows Johnson to unveil his vulnerable side. The no-nonsense Blunt is fiercely independent as Lily, a trail-blazing scientist who strives to break into the male-dominated scientific community. But Lily is also as caring as she is courageous. As Frank and Lily get to know one another, their walls come down and opposites attract. Johnson and Blunt share a great chemistry as the two grow to trust each other.
“Jungle Cruise” blends the feel of a classic swashbuckler with a modern sensibility. When Frank calls the trousers-wearing Lily “Pants” and Lily calls the grumpy Frank “Skippy,” their clashing interactions are straight out of the screwball comedies from Hollywood’s Golden Era. The two engage in some humorous slapstick, another throwback to the genre. The humor is simple and in good fun. Plemons’ mustache-twirling German is an homage to villains past, and the actor is having a blast hamming it up. Yet “Jungle Cruise” turns its eye to the present day with a message of acceptance. On the heels of an LGBTQ character in “Cruella,” the film reveals MacGregor is gay, abandoned by most of his family except for Lily. Whitehall elicits sympathy during a moving scene that promotes inclusivity and understanding.
Taking cues from successful films in its genre, “Jungle Cruise” mashes elements of “The Mummy” with “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The familiar story makes “Jungle Cruise” feel less original, but no less fun. The dynamic between Blunt’s brave scientist, Johnson’s rakish adventurer and MacGregor’s milquetoast brother echoes that between Rachel Weisz, Brendan Frasier and John Hannah in “The Mummy.” Because the film is based on an amusement park ride, “Jungle Cruise” wouldn’t have enough meat for its story if it didn’t pull from another blockbuster. The film taps into the plot of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” which was also based on a Disney theme park ride. “Jungle Cruise” owes a lot to these movies.
In a perplexing move, “Jungle Cruise” casts Edgar Ramirez in a nearly wordless role as a Spanish conquistador. The supporting part reminded me of Johnson’s film debut as the Scorpion King in “The Mummy Returns,” before we knew what the WWE wrestler was capable of. But the opposite is true for the established Ramirez. The actor is more than qualified for the role, but he is given little to do here. I would have liked to see Ramirez take on a bigger part in the narrative.
The enjoyable “Jungle Cruise” brings back the glorious feeling of watching a blockbuster on the silver screen. I had so much fun during this, and I’m glad I got to see it with a bag of popcorn at the theater. Even though it feels familiar, Disney’s latest big-budget effort reinvigorates the swashbuckler for modern viewers of all ages, buoyed by its game cast. Whether you decide to watch the blockbuster at home or at the cinema, “Jungle Cruise” is worth the price of admission.
4 out of 5 stars
From right, Jack Whitehall, Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson in a scene from “Jungle Cruise.” (Disney via AP)
Joe’s Take
I’m at the point where I’ll see any movie starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The same goes for Emily Blunt. Put them in the same film? Take my money.
The moment I saw the casting, I needed to see “Jungle Cruise.” I knew nothing about it, except that The Rock and Blunt were in it. I paid $30 to watch it on Disney Plus, and it didn’t disappoint on the backs of its charismatic leads.
The Rock, who plays Frank Wolff in “Jungle Cruise,” continues to grow as an actor. He understands what he does well on screen and proves completely comfortable in this film. He brings immense charisma and energy, and he understands the film he’s in. If you’ve followed his career, or his Instagram, you know he works hard, too. It shows in his recent films. He doesn’t phone it in, even when he has to sing in “Moana.” In “Jungle Cruise,” he also has the perfect co-star to play off.
While The Rock needs the right roles to succeed, Blunt (who plays Lily Houghton) can adapt to any role. She’s a star who plays action heroes and dramatic and comedic roles. Blunt also matches The Rock’s charisma. The dynamic duo’s immediate chemistry makes the film worth watching. Their on-screen relationship takes comedic and dramatic turns with plenty of action sequences sprinkled in. They jell beautifully to create a realistic pair.
Jack Whitehall (Lily’s brother MacGregor) is also a welcome addition, as well as Jesse Plemons (Prince Joachim). Whitehall is the opposite of Blunt’s character. Lily is a courageous, strong-willed adventurer, while MacGregor just wants to live a lavish lifestyle. It would be easy for a character like that to get annoying, but Whitehall plays it perfectly, blending his high-maintenance lifestyle with devotion to the people around him.
Plemons is a perfect villain. While in more serious films or shows he effortlessly creates uneasiness and discomfort, Plemons hams it up to match the film’s energy. While he’s enjoyable to watch on screen, he still proves menacing when needed.
I commend the cast for understanding what kind of movie this was, a Disney family film, because without them bringing the right energy to their roles, “Jungle Cruise” might have suffered. There’s not a lot that stands out about this movie besides its cast. The actors had to elevate the script, as the story is there for the sake of making a movie about a Disney ride. For what it’s worth, after watching the “Jungle Cruise” ride through an eight-minute YouTube video and talking to my esteemed colleague Tyler Piccotti, the movie is faithful to the ride. However, it makes sense the writers didn’t have much to build from. So, they dipped into another Disney property from another movie based on a Disney ride. Some characters are introduced later in the film who look like they sailed on the Black Pearl in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” but aren’t as well designed. The visual effects don’t lack, but there’s nothing special about them.
While all of those problems matter in most films, they don’t in “Jungle Cruise.” Besides its strong characters and actors, the film keeps a great pace that makes the two-hour, seven-minute run time feel like nothing. The action-packed, non-stop movie also nails its physical comedy and action sequences. It even leans into its puns so hard that you can’t help but laugh.
“Jungle Cruise” is a flawed movie with charismatic leads who lift the film from mediocre to good. It strengthens my stance of seeing every movie starring these two. If they could turn a bland script into a fun film, why not believe in them? Watch it with the family at the theater or stay home and pay $30. Despite its issues, you and your kids will have smiles on your faces throughout.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Rebecca Kivak and Joe Baress write about movies for Take 2 blog. Together, they review current flicks and offer their insights into the latest movie news. Rebecca is a copy editor and page designer at The Times-Tribune. She started her career with Times-Shamrock Newspapers in 2005 and has won several professional journalism awards for page design and headline writing. She also covers NASCAR races from Pocono Raceway. Contact: rkivak@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5126; @TTRebeccaKivak
