Jungle Cruise
Some of the reasons the most enjoyable Disney live-action films are so entertaining are a mixture of premise, filmmaking energy and a charismatic cast. It’s why the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “National Treasure” are some of my favorites of theirs. I felt that alchemy was just right in “Jungle Cruise,” as well. Based on the Disney theme park ride, “Jungle Cruise” has plenty of ideas you’ve seen plenty of times before, but a charm that boils down to the performances by Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson; they make a winning pair.
The film begins, in flashback, telling us the story of Spanish Conquistadors travelling in the 16th Century down the Amazon to look for the fabled Tree of Life. The expedition, led by Aguirre, succeeds, but are damned for eternity after trying to steal the pedals from the natives. (If either “The Fountain” or “Aguirre, the Wrath of God” cross your mind, don’t worry- they did mine, also.) Cut to the early 20th Century, and MacGregor Houghton (Jack Whitehall) is presenting an expedition to the Amazon to search for the tree, and its pedals, for scientific medical purposes. The proposal is actually on behalf of his sister, Lily (Emily Blunt), who is working on stealing an arrowhead that could lead to the tree. Once they recover it, they go to the Amazon, and hire skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson), a tour guide, to take them down the river.
One can feel the obvious things that are inspiring “Jungle Cruise” beyond just being a Disney adventure ride (although the film plays off of that, as well). But do not think this is along the lines of a “Romancing the Stone,” a “Raiders of the Lost Ark” or an “African Queen” in terms of quality, although Blunt and Johnson make sure you really do not feel like it has to be. Is Blunt one of the most innately likable, original adventure heroines since Rachel Weisz in the first two “Mummy” movies? From the first moment she was acquiring the arrowhead, I knew I was in for a treat with this character. But that’s basically par for the course from the actress at the point. Johnson does exactly what you expect him to do with this material, and he is naturally charismatic. (No one else could make those groaning jokes enjoyable in their delivery.) And he has good chemistry with Blunt, being the Bogart to her Hepburn. There is a choice made with the character that I can see throwing one off, but it also adds a layer of choice for the characters as they go through the adventure, and how things play out. Admittedly, I wish it had ended slightly differently, but I still enjoyed the movie as a whole.
Director Jaume Collet-Serra keeps things moving fairly briskly, and I liked the energy of the film, even if it feels a bit too busy at times. There are some good supporting players in this film, with Paul Giamatti as one of Johnson’s chief rivals as a larger tour guide conglomerate; Whitehall has some fun moments, but also one that is very poignant when he and Johnson are talking on their own; Edgar Ramirez plays Aguirre, and he might have some of the weirdest, coolest CGI performance capture characters since Davy Jones. No one in the supporting cast seems to be having more fun, however, than Jesse Plemons as Prince Joachim, a German officer whom is looking for the tree and pedals for the exact same reasons the Nazis are looking for the Ark in “Raiders.” Plemons is having a blast playing a crazy German accent, but I’m not going to lie- his death is so crazy it’s appropriate. He makes for a wild, ideal, foil for our heroes.
“Jungle Cruise” might be one of my favorite movie experiences I’ve had this year. I’m not about to say it’s high art, or even the highest level of entertainment like those adventures from year’s past, but it’s an ideal summer movie that is fun, exciting and has enough things that are memorable that you look over some of the more questionable choices in the long run. One of those questionable choices in “Jungle Cruise” includes a needle drop that, when paired with one in “Black Widow,” makes you think a weird trend might be continuing with “Shang Chi” and “Eternals.” I’ll be curious you’re thoughts on that one.
