Cruisin' On Through
SCORE: 82/100
****BEWARE POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD****
REVIEW:
Let's get it out of the way, Disney hasn't had the best track records with movies based on their rides. While the Pirates movies were good for the most part, Haunted Mansion was awful and Tomorrowland was certainly mediocre. I'm happy to report that Jungle Cruise seems to have broken the curse as it were, and in a way that honors the ride as much as expanding upon it.
Following my recent reviews, let's start with the positives. The cast in this movie is simply delightful. Dwayne Johnson continues to shine as the leading man, providing ample levels of humor and action that make him endearing from the start. His character has some interesting twists to the usual Dwayne Johnson type, and they were entertaining to see. Emily Blunt is also great, playing the headstrong and whip-smart female lead that she fits into perfectly. Her presence on screen is always glowing, either from her character or the incredible co-stars around her. Jack Whitehall, a British comedian that I love, has his first true film role here. While he plays a bit of a stereotype, the uptight Brit, he brings a level of charm and his character does grow significantly by the end. The only real misstep in the cast is Jesse Plemons, who plays the German aristocrat villain. His accent isn't always convincing, and he's played a little too comically for my taste, not really bringing a threat to the main characters aside from his firepower. Edgar Ramirez isn't in the film as much as I'd want him, which isn't an issue from him as much as it is from the writing. He and his conquistador villains offer a great visual threat, but are sidelined in favor of Plemons.
Another thing I'd like to highlight in here is a particular character's story. This is a spoiler, so if you'd like to avoid it, move onto the next paragraph. Jack Whitehall's character, as far as I know, is the first openly gay character from Disney. Through a dialogue with Johnson, he reveals that his sister has stood by him since he was under threat of ostracization from British society over the people he loves. It doesn't feel forced because of the story reasons for it, and Johnson's character's acceptance of it goes a long way. I'm very interested to see how members of the LGBTQIA+ community look at this, as from my arguably limited point of view it's handled well.
The film does a great job of working the ride's aesthetic into the movie in some great ways. I love that Johnson's job is being a skipper like the ones at Disneyland, offering guests a joke-filled and danger-less time. I'm not one for puns, but the Jungle Cruise jokes from the ride do tend to tickle me sometimes, and they do here as well. As a fan of Disney parks, and the original ride, I feel that the movie not only honors it but builds upon it. Much as the first Pirates of the Caribbean did. It also manages to get some horror aspects into it, which I did not expect.
Jungle Cruise also has some pretty awesome visual effects. The animation and character design is incredible with regards to the Conquistador villains. The titular jungle also exudes a level of color to the film that is awesome, along with some incredible locations to set the story in. In addition, the music provides a level of excitement as well. While it's not going in the halls of film music history, it fit the movie quite well. Now, I'm a Metallica fan, but the inclusion of Nothing Else Matters into the score felt a little odd. It's the first song you hear in the movie, used during the title sequence, and it works pretty well. However, the second time it's used it really doesn't fit, utilizing drums and electric guitars during a moment that would've been better with more somber music.
Leading into some negatives. The film's story isn't really the most original, borrowing heavily from films like Indiana Jones and The Mummy. While I'm a huge fan of those films, and other films of the type, this film doesn't feel entirely new. It's not the largest of problems, as the movie still has some fun twists, but it's a noticeable one for adventure film fans like I am.
Pacing and energy also seem to be a little off here, as the third act feels pretty rushed. I feel that Disney and the director must have felt that their best content was while on the boat (which it is), and clearly wanted to rush through the end of the film. The climax here is anti-climactic, without truly offering stakes that feel real because of similar films in its genre. We know that the villains will get what they deserve, there may be a fake sacrifice or two, and they'll get away and no one will ever see the treasure/location ever again.
There isn't really much else to say besides I had A LOT of fun with Jungle Cruise. Aside from my critiques, the film is still incredibly fun due to its cast and the legacy it carries. While it's not perfect, as no movie ever truly is, it oozes a sense of adventure and fun that I love. Movies like this, the Indiana Joneses and Mummies of the world, were among the films that got me into watching movies more seriously. I hope that this film could do the same for younger audiences. I'm excited to see whether it gets a sequel, which could explore more parts of the world from the original ride.
Conclusion: While not entirely original, and a bit anti-climactic, Jungle Cruise sets sail with a great cast, a fun and family-friendly adventure, and a reverence for the ride it's based on.
Score: 82/100
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