Jungle Cruise - A Movie Review

It’s going to be a long journey across the river. Do you have all your bags?

Sailing its way into theaters, Jungle Cruise is a 2021 film. A brother and his fierce sister go on a journey through the dangerous jungle on a boat. As Frank, the boat’s skipper, and Lily endlessly bicker, they are cornered by peculiar beings.

I was pumped to see Jungle Cruise on the big screen. While the cast was remarkable, particularly Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson, the story was not at all what I was expecting. Losing its adventurous river story, the film took this strange fantasy-supernatural direction.

No question, Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson are the highlights. While Blunt is her usual powerhouse self, Johnson treats audiences with witty jokes. Their chemistry was terrific. I would love to see their clever banter in more films.

Stealing the show, Jack Whitehall was hilarious. Sporting fancy suits that are not suitable for the humid jungle, MacGregor learns that he has more survival skills than he thought. In a deep scene, we’re given hints of his background.

Only, it is never brought up again. This particular trait about Whitehall’s character either needed more fleshing out or it was too over the top.

The trio worked tremendously together. Although, their dynamic reminded me a little too much of the interactions of the main trio in The Mummy (1999).

Other credits include Edgar Ramirez, Jesse Plemons, Paul Giamatti, Veronica Falcon, Dani Rovira, and one of the best ensembles who had the pleasure to be the tour group in the beginning.

Here’s where Jungle Cruise started to fall out of place for me. The villains don’t fit in with this film. With their designs, they resembled something out of a Marvel film. Their motivation was also confusing.

Scenes that took place on the river were my favorite - but we turn away from that adventure by the end. Those who love to go sailing are sure to enjoy this film. Location-wise the setting was the best. I loved scenes that took place on the river. The climax’s setting should have been on the boat.

Jungle Cruise fell into a fantasy/supernatural tone. I am not familiar with the original story so I don’t know if this was all according to the source material. I actually thought that the film turned into a Pirates of the Caribbean film.

Jaume Collet-Sierra succeeded in the adventure of the Jungle Cruise. He worked closely with the main cast and their dynamic. It’s the story that became scattered. An out-of-place backstory was given to Johnson’s character which fit more in a fantasy film or The Pirates of the Caribbean.

Visual effects were notable but got distracting. Filmmakers created signature sets and filmed on the best rivers. They made it feel like an early 1900s setting. The editing felt too quick at times. The film jumped into different scenarios. Sometimes it flipped to a new scene in the blink of an eye.

Costume designers did their research for the clothes. Each character was given a design that suited them. (Haha, just realized the pun.) I was laughing throughout most of the film. Thanks to Johnson and his clever puns, you have to laugh.

Gender plays a huge role in Jungle Cruise. No matter what, man or woman, don’t let anyone tell you where you belong. Women were not allowed a voice in the early 1900s. Stand your ground, wear what you please, and be happy with yourself.

Jungle Cruise is fun for the entire family. You have to experience Jungle Cruise in theaters. It’s worth a watch.