Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” is a comedic high adventure romp in the Amazonian jungle. It is derivative of movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Indiana Jones” and completely expected, but in this case those are not bad things. In fact, they are pleasantly engrossing.
Like “Pirates” this is based on a Disney ride and with that comes a certain amount of the expected. That does not detract from the fun, the puns, (listen for the instrumental Metallica music) and the jungle adventure one would expect from the genre. “Jungle Cruise” knows exactly what it is and delivers jumps, vine swings, and a tale full of legend. It is what it is and it does it well.
While the connections to “Pirates” is a bit to strong at times, and to a lesser extent, “Indian Jones,” “Jungle Cruise” does have its own personality. The flip flop from the damsel in distress to a woman with strength and courage and intelligence (she is a doctor in a time when women were not to be such things), is a nice modern lens in a period piece. The use of puns as character development gives the movie its own flair.
Great for the whole family. We’re it me, I would use “Jungle Cruise” for my young kids to introduce them to the classics of the genre. If you liked this, you’d like “Indiana Jones” and “Pirates if the Caribbean” and help them build their movie cred—assuming you haven’t already done your due diligence.
Grade B+
(By Chris Wilson)
