Jungle Cruise

Release Date: July 30, 2021

Watch Date: January 28 - January 30, 2023

"Join fan favourites Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for the adventure of a lifetime on Disney's 'Jungle Cruise', a rollicking thrill ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton. Lily travels from London to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank's questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila, his ramshackle but charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities, and the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust together on this epic quest, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank, and their fate - along with mankind's - hangs in the balance."

    I did not support Disney+ charging money, in addition to it's subscription fee, for the ability to watch newly released movies. I understand that there was a pandemic going on and no one could make it into the theatres, but when other companies were making their services easier and more accessible in the name of getting through a terrible time in global history, Disney was charging you extra.

    I did pay extra to watch Jungle Cruise. And it's not just because I love both Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt, which I do. I think they're both phenomenal actors. No. It's because I love Jack Whitehall. He is a hilarious British comedian who really, really wants to break into the American market and if I can help him to do so in anyway then I feel duty bound.

    Luckily for me, I did not regret my one time purchase, even if it's not a purchase Bob would have approved of, had he known, so when it came time for me to pick another movie this month, Jungle Cruise was an easy choice. Because it's an extremely solid film.

    Apparently, more of Disney's action-adventure films need to be based off of theme park rides. Pirates of the Caribbean netted them a multi-film franchise. Jungle Cruise is an amazing success. What would Matterhorn, or Big Thunder Mountain do? There's even a new Haunted Mansion film coming out, though I personally enjoyed the one with Eddie Murphy, I'm sure the newer one will be even better. Haunted Mansion being my favorite Disneyparks ride, I can't complain about their being multiple attempts to do it justice.

    Dr. Lily Houghton is a fantastic character, and a wonderful female role model. Does she occasionally need the help of a big strong man, at least when it's the one skill - swimming - that she's not confident in? Yes. Is she generally completely capable, and often the one thinking her way out of tough scrapes? For sure. She's not a damsel in need of rescuing, she's a lady who every so often wouldn't mind a bit of help. But she holds her own with Johnson's male lead Frank, and their chemistry and romantic relationship is extremely well done.

    I liked the twist, I didn't see it coming the first time, though there are more signs on a second watch. It adds a layer to it that I wasn't really expecting from a ride that's based primarily off of dad jokes. But then again, I don't think anyone was expecting the twists and turns Pirates would take either.

    I hate to keep comparing it to Pirates, but it does feel an awful lot like Pirates. The action, the pace of the jokes and the adventure. The way it's set in a very specific time period on earth. There's nothing wrong with that either, Pirates worked for a reason, and so it doesn't do Jungle Cruise any harm to want to hit similar beats. And if that leads to a franchise? Well, I don't think Jungle Cruise needed a sequel, but there's one in the works already so what do I know?

    Well actually, I know this, if it means that Jack Whitehall gets more acting work in box office smashes, then I'm extremely happy. Even if the conservative world is very, very upset that his character is gay, even though it barely comes up, only gets referenced in a very natural, way. It doesn't define his character, it doesn't really do anything other than explain the difficulties he had growing up and the reason he's so close to his sister, who stood by him despite the rest of the world, and their family, turning on him.

    I'm sure most people have watched this film, but if you haven't, I strongly recommend you do. It's going to make a move to be the next Pirates, and if Pirates was any indication, that could sweep the globe. You don't want to not know what people are referencing in ten years.