dir. Jaume Collet-Serra (trailer)
Disney's Jungle Cruise is a fun throwback to the adventure films frequently found in the 80s and 90s, like Romancing the Stone and The Mummy. While the film's formulaic enemies to lovers trope isn't anything new, the overall story of the film feels refreshing in this age of sequels, reboots, and spin-offs.
The film, based on the Disney theme park ride, follows Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) as they search for the Tree of Life, mirroring the infamous Don Aguirre's journey hundreds of years before. They end up hiring Frank (Dwayne Johnson), a riverboat captain and tour guide, and quickly discover that he's a swindler. As they begin their trip down the river, secrets among all involved begin to come to light, as it is revealed that both Dr. Houghton and Frank are after the same thing.
While most of the film is CGI, the visual effects actually look good and the lush green surroundings really bring you into the film's world of adventure. The film definitely has it's weaknesses, such as lack of chemistry between actors, but the film is still really fun to watch and tells an interesting story. The film also tries, albeit a little clunkily, to address the plight of women's rights and historical wrong doings in the profession of academia and introduce one of Disney's first queer characters in MacGregor.
I recommend this film to fans of action movies and those looking for a refreshing blockbuster to enjoy!
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Recommended for fans of: action/adventure, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2018), George of the Jungle (2000), comedy
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