It seems like almost every ride at Disneyland is getting its own movie treatment these days – Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and the list goes on. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the first few Pirates movies were a lot of fun, and each ride does have their own stories and mysteries to delve into for their films. With Jungle Cruise, though, it seems like it came from the creative minds that cater to things that no one wanted or even cared about. Sure, it’s a beloved ride, but it’s not something that most people were writing letters demanding. While it’s definitely not necessary, it is easily enjoyable and worth watching even if it’s not destined to become a classic.
Flashback centuries ago to a group of Spanish conquistadors invading the Amazon in their search for the legendary Tree of Life, the petals of which are worth more than gold. Due to their betrayal of the natives who helped them, they are cursed to forever roam the lands and can never go beyond eyesight of the Amazon River. Back in present (World War I) times, Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and her brother McGregor (Jack Whitehall) also travel to the rainforest on a search for the Tree of Life, however, they are looking for its riches to benefit all of mankind to extend people’s lives and cure illness. To assist them in their quest, they hire shyster Captain Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) to lead them through the treacherous waters and protect them from the wildlife and natives. But they are not the only ones on the trail as German aristocrat Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons) and his naval soldiers and submarine (yes, you read that right) are hot at their heels and have a little help from some freed, cursed, and mutilated Conquistadors who are all after the prize for their own glory and gain.
To put it simply, this is Pirates of the Caribbean in the Amazon. Literally. It follows almost every beat, plot point, and twist that Pirates had done nearly 20 years ago. And due to that, there are almost no surprises to be had since each is not only telegraphed but copied from what came before. Which isn’t to say that Jungle Cruise isn’t enjoyable just that it feels more like a pseudo sequel than a standalone movie. It does wisely borrow from other films in the action genre such as Indiana Jones, Romancing the Stone, Star Wars, and even a little The Gods Must Be Crazy but never so much that it seems like it’s ripping them off instead of paying homage. While it would have been interesting to be something unique, at least it’s an amalgam of good movies that makes this one better.
As I’ve mentioned before, one thing I love about a movie is when the people involved in it know exactly what kind of film they’re in. Jungle Cruise is meant to just be goofy fun, and everyone is in on the gag. The villain is quite literally mustache-twirling. The Captain is roguish and continually has a mischievous glint in his eye. The Doctor is the epitome of goodness and light. They are pure stereotypes for a reason, and it works well. There are some slight character arcs, but that’s not what we are in it for. We want to see zombified conquistadors and the hazards of the jungle and the nefarious traps that guard the Tree of Life, and that’s what we get.
In the end, no one is really going to remember this as a great movie or one that they will want to revisit again and again, but it is entertaining and a nice palate cleanser from some of the recent outings at the box office. Fans of the ride and Disneyland in general will find a ton of Easter Eggs and references to it and the park, and while it is pure spectacle, that isn’t a bad thing. It’s complete fluff that will make you forget about the real world for two hours or so, and in this case, that’s enough.