In 1916, Dr. Lily Houghton (Blunt) is a scientist seeking the Tears of the Moon, a tree whose petals have magical powers to cure illnesses/injuries/curses. The tree is considered a myth, sensationalized by the legend of Spanish conquistador Don Aguirre (Ramirez). Aguirre and his men sought the tree and were cursed by the Puka Michuna tribe to become immortal, but bound to the Amazon River. Lily's brother MacGregor (Whitehall) presents the research before the Royal Society, in hopes of finding the tree and using it's magical healing properties toward the war efforts. The Royal Society refuses, refusing to acknowledge Lily or condone her pursuit of a myth. Undeterred, Lily and MacGregor travel to Brazil with a stolen artifact.
Frank Wolff (Johnson) is the skipper on a cheap jungle cruise in Brazil. He cons tourists, with a combination of terrible puns and fake danger. He also attempts to stay a step ahead of harbormaster Nilo Nemolato (Giamatti), who he owes a sizable sum. Lily and MacGregor hire Frank to take them down the Amazon River. They are pursued by Prince Joachim (Plemons) who seeks the tree for Germany.
Prince Joachim is willing to do anything to gain his prize. He finds and forms an alliance with the conquistadors. Can Lily, MacGregor, and Frank survive the dangers of the adventure and find the Tears of the Moon before their foes?
Based on the Disney ride, also called Jungle Cruise. The film has several references to the ride, including calling the tour guide "Skipper", the puns, the "backside of water", etc.
The Good:
It is an enjoyable, family-friendly adventure. The story moves at a brisk pace, but never feels rushed. Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt have good chemistry and easily embody their characters. The story strikes a balance between comedy and adventure. Jack Whitehall's MacGregor is the consistent comic relief.
The Bad:
The CGI on Proxima. But as a whole, not much to complain about.
Other Comments:
-The film is also inspired by the 1951 film The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, which was Walt Disney's favorite film and the inspiration for the ride. Most notably in Frank's attire, Lily's pants and name (Hepburn's middle name was Houghton).
-Feels reminiscent of The Mummy: female expert/adventurer and her charismatic but inept brother, reluctantly team up with the only guide who knows the terrain. There is a cursed villain and adventure mixed with humor. An added connection, Dwayne Johnson appeared in The Mummy Returns.
-Jesse Plemons' villain is over the top, but it works.
-A sequel is planned, but there are no specific details at this time.
Jungle Cruise (2021) 128 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of adventure violence
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Dwayne Johnson as Frank Wolff
Emily Blunt as Lily Houghton
Edgar Ramirez as Aguirre
Jack Whitehall as MacGregor Houghton
Jesse Plemons as Prince Joachim
Paul Giamatti as Nilo Nemolato
Veronica Falcon as Trader Sam
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