In the past when Disney have had a live action film release, it would generally mean a retelling or a remake of sense, however, Jungle Cruise is one of a few exemptions which offers a perfect opportunity to create a distinct and stand-alone franchise which could last for as long as there are people to watch.
Ever since Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (Dead Men Tell No Tales in some territories) released in 2017, a huge Black Pearl sized hole of adventure has been missing from Disney’s live action release titles. Jungle Cruise also offers promise that potentially gives Disney a great advantage for upcoming releases, and new stories can be brought to life with established theme park attractions globally and Disney being able to look to them for inspiration.
‘Jungle Cruise’ is a Blend of Genres, and not a Copycat
I know that my following statement has been thrown around a lot throughout critic’s social reactions to the title, but Jungle Cruise really is a film where Indiana Jones meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Mummy (1999)… and despite perhaps too long a run time and some odd decisions here and there, it ends up being quite a thrilling and fun adventure for everyone! Credit must be acknowledged to Glenn Ficarra and John Requa who provide us with the story which makes this film.
For someone unfamiliar with the original attraction, which is present at four global Disney Parks (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland) – I found myself to really enjoy this film regardless of prior knowledge of the attraction, and I firmly believe regular audiences will do the same. From viewing Behind the Attraction (now streaming on Disney+), I was able to understand the premise of the attraction and understand who a Skipper was. In our case in Jungle Cruise, our skipper is none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, also known as Skipper Frank during the events of the film.
Characters
Frank is a charming, witty and overall cool character, with an interesting dynamic which is learned about throughout the film. We first meet him in a scene which I can only describe as a love letter to Walt Disney’s Jungle Cruise, with nods to both the attraction and the comedy of that of the skippers – including some “Dad Joke” pun, one personal favourite was about the Orange Juice Factory where Frank used to work at, until he got canned as he couldn’t concentrate – one of many funny jokes throughout the film.
Whilst the film is light-hearted in places, it is full of action and leading the way is Emily Blunt’s Lily Houghton who is a fierce, cunning and incredibly intelligent heroine. We find ourselves following Lily, her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) as they embark on a journey through the Amazon alongside Frank. My only issue with the story, like many other films is the decision to focus on a MacGuffin for the whole film, however, a lot of adventure films focus on the use of a plot device such as a MacGuffin – so some may argue that there isn’t an issue with this aspect of the plot.
Along the way we’re met by two different, yet dynamic antagonists in the form of the hilarious at times Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemmons), a deranged and ambitious German aristocrat who finances and leads a military expedition to claim the Tree of Life for himself, and Aguirre (Édgar Ramírez), a deadly mercenary hired to guide a rival expedition for the Tree. One does worry that if Disney are to make more sequels, as reported – there are questions to ask regarding where this franchise can go, there’s only so many Jungles to Cruise in the world, but I’m sure the wonderful writing team can return and conjure up a treat.
The Chemistry
A highlight of this film is Blunt and Johnson’s chemistry, which at times is wonderful and the two really work well together, its very clear to see why Johnson wanted Blunt for the role as both are fantastic on screen and bounce off each other with charming banter. Jack Whitehall’s MacGregor was another character I really liked, first introduced as an incredible preppy and posh character, he really grows on you as you learn more about him and see him in action.
The only issue I had, was the poor attempt made by Disney during the scene where MacGregor comes out to Frank. Whilst the word “gay” is not used once during the duration of the scene, MacGregor explains how he broke off three engagements with women because his “interests happily lay elsewhere.” He then makes the claim he would do anything for his sister Lily, because she was the only one who stood by him while he was shunned by family and friends because of who he “loved.” The scene has been referred to by some as a blink and you’ll miss it moment, and I can agree – this is not sufficient LGBTQ+ representation and Disney need to do better.
‘Jungle Cruise’ – Final Thoughts
In conclusion, I had a really fun time watching Jungle Cruise – it makes for a perfect family viewing for the summer, and there is something in it for everyone! With a great story supported by a strong cast, Jungle Cruise makes way for Disney’s next big franchise.
Jungle Cruise releases in cinemas and on Disney+ Premier Access on July 30. Check out a trailer below:
