For their last Summer movie of the year, Disney+ has finally released the long-awaited 'Jungle Cruise' and even with the additional Premiere Access fee, it's definitely worth your attention.
Basing a film on a theme park attraction isn't new, and this easily feels like Disney's follow up to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and I can already smell a sequel on the horizon...
The chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt is incredibly authentic, and there's no doubt as to why Disney keeps calling on them.
Johnson, who is himself a HUGE fan of Disney and their parks, is charming and witty as Frank, and is the only actor in the film who could get away with those terrible (wonderful!) Jungle Cruise puns.
Emily Blunt's Lily is the type of heroine we all need to see on screen right now, and kicks all kind of butt (literally and figuratively) in every scene.
The rest of the cast deserves their dues as well, with Paul Giamatti, Jesse Piemons, and Édgar Ramírez as the story's villains, but Jack Whitehall as Lily's brother McGregor has both the funniest and most sincere moments in the movie, as well as making a bit of history along the way.
As expected, references and nods to the ride (and even other Adventureland offerings) pop up, but I found them sprinkled into the story in a way that seemed genuine, and not just for the fan-service. Since the original Jungle Cruise attraction has recently received a facelift to eliminate some of the rather racist themes, I was curious to see what would be held over from the ride's show scenes, and what IS still there seemed to be handled with a lot of sensitivity and care.
Of course if you're still hesitant, the movie will be available to all Disney+ subscribers without the extra fees soon enough. But if you're a fan of Disney's brand of family action films or the park attraction itself, this movie is one heck of a ride!
