Cruise Control!!!!! Duo of Blunt and Johnson Create Big Laughs and High Thrills in Summer Adventure Fest!!!!!
Review By Brandon Porter
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| A Partnership Formed Through Mutual Understanding |
Explorer Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) has never been one to shy away from discovery or adventure. No matter how crazy or far-fetched the journey is, if there’s a chance of learning more about it, she will not let anything stand in her way. Now, a new revelation has come to fruition fueling her desire to go out and see it for herself. An ancient tree foretold to hold unimaginable healing powers has been said to be located deep in the Amazonian rainforest. But the journey to get there is treacherous. Knowing the danger she may face on the journey, Lily enlists the assistance of local skipper and businessman Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) to grant her and her brother (Jack Whitehall) safe passage to the tree. With deadly mercenaries, local natives and ancient curses at every turn, Frank and Lily must rely on each other to reach the tree and survive the unrelenting trials of the Amazon jungle.
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Frank, Lily, and McGregor await their fate amongst
the natives. |
Loosely based on the classic Disneyland attraction that has been part of the company’s history for almost 6 decades, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt star in the adventure film that takes two of Hollywood’s biggest stars and pairs them together in what looks to be the thrill ride of the summer. After going on this trek with the skipper and the explorer, Jungle Cruise is a ride worth taking with a group of characters worth spending time with. The thing that allows for Jungle Cruise to shine is its embrace of the crazy antics and world. The film never takes itself seriously but it doesn't sacrifice the quality of its entertainment value or its characters that add so much to the film. While we are on the subject of characters, let's give unsurprising praise to the lead duo. Dwayne Johnson continues to be one of the most alluring and electrifying presences on screen. His turn as Frank Wolff is fun to watch and also equally surprising to watch evolve over the course of the film. Johnson plays this character with such charisma and heart that it should be no surprise that you become attached and enamored within minutes of meeting him. This speaks to Johnson's unmatched ability to singlehandedly carry a film and his talent as an on-screen performer.
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| Strong Form, Poor Targeting |
Luckily, Johnson has someone to help carry the load in Emily Blunt. Between this film and A Quiet Place Part II earlier this year, I think it is safe to say that Blunt is becoming one of the most versatile actresses in the industry. Her effortless ability to poignantly display any and every emotion and do it so convincingly is a joy to watch. Her turn as Lily truly showcases her wit, humor, and sense of self crafting a character that you fall in love with from frame one. Her chemistry with Johnson only elevates her game as she is able to play off of him so well creating one of the best one-two punches in the Summer Movie Season. Jack Whitehall is not to be outdone as Lily's brother McGregor. His antics kept me laughing throughout the film making him an entertaining standout. His character is significant given he is LGBTQ but his reveal is executed well and doesn't come off as forced. Even after the reveal, he never changes in attitude or mindset, and that kind of character consistency helped shape him and make him a full-fledged comic relief. Paul Giamatti, Jesse Plemons, and Edgar Ramirez all do well on their screen time and none feel as wasted as most feared they would be. As I mentioned before, Jungle Cruise embraces its identity and never tries to take things seriously. Everything from the comedic beats to the action creates a strong sense of a film that just wants its audience to have a good time. Not to say there are not some heartfelt and emotional moments, but they occur as a result of character development and the performance of the actors. With so many movies looking to be taken seriously despite their ludicrous premise, it's nice to see Jungle Cruise wear its campiness and literal corniness like a badge of honor and aim to deliver a film that is pure popcorn indulging fun. In hindsight, Jungle Cruise fits the bill as a true-to-nature summer movie. Funny, action-packed, and full of heart, fun characters, and enough good-natured intentions to justify its absurd antics. It's a movie that is only intended to let you sit back and enjoy the ride and in these times, a ticket to that is worth more than anyone can imagine.
Rating and Final Thoughts
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A good-hearted, funny, and action-packed summer romp backed with a terrific duo that
make this cruise a ride worth the waters in treads. |
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| Jungle Hugs are the Best Hugs |
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