JUNGLE CRUISE

US, 2021, 127 minutes, Colour.

Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramirez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, Paul Giamatti, Veronica Falcon.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

Cruise is far too sedate a word to have in the title for this very action-action adventure. It opens with conquistadors on the Amazon searching for a flower with healing powers, tangling with the Indians, only to reappear in 1916. 1916 is the year for the setting of this action, the same year that Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn sailed on The African Queen to thwart the Germans. This time it is Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt sailing on the Amazon, Dwayne Johnson being a credible captain-cousin to Humphrey Bogart but Emily Blunt not nearly as ladylike as Katherine Hepburn. Her character, Lily, has no knowledge of ladylike.

40 years ago we were introduced to Indiana Jones and his adventures. 20 years ago there was Lara Croft. Jungle Cruise goes beyond both of these stories and, of course, has lots of 21^st-century special effects (with some credit to studios in South Australia and New Zealand amongst others).

And, 1916, sinister Germans, first seen in the scientific academy on Piccadilly Circus, Prince Joachim (with Jesse Plemons talking vis ze sinister accent and proving himself a dastardly villain, pursuing our heroes in a submarine in the Amazon).

Dwayne Johnson is Captain Frank, introduced by taking a group of very Edwardian tourists on the river, providing lots of scares and jokes, Dwayne Johnson proving himself very adept with the screenwriters punchant for play on words (he continues throughout the film and the very last word, in fact, has Emily Blunt, previously not laughing, making a pun herself!).

There is something for everyone in this adventure. Plenty of action. Plenty of climaxes. Some literal cliffhangers. And scarcely a pause for breath. And it is romantic, but not in any sloppy way! Jack Whitehall deserves a special mention as Lily’s brother, very uppercrust (with Oscar Wilde issues), but gradually getting into the swing of things, literally, becoming very much part of the action.

The inspiration for this film comes from one of the Disney World rides. One would imagine that with the success of Jungle Cruise on screen, there will be additions and improvements for visitors to Disneyland.

1. A large-scale action adventure entertainment? Based on the Disneyland ride?
2. 1916, World War I, British patriotism, German infiltration, action in Brazil, the legends, the expedition, the dangers, confrontations, achievement?
3. A Hawaiian locations, atmosphere for the cap and was on, the river, the banks, the forests? The local tribes? The conquest did or ghosts? Stunts and action? Special effects? The musical score?
4. The introduction to the Brazilian legend, the flower, remote, the moon, the local Indians? The conquest of doors, the search, Aguirre and his sick daughter, the quest, the other men, the fights, disaster, their being frozen in time? Francisco and his role in their downfall?
5. Billy, her father and his research, a woman not accepted by Academy, McGregor giving the speech, the rejections? Lily, behind-the-scenes, the intrusion into the office, the relics, getting the key, leaving the Mac or? Prince Joe come and his contacts, plans, the professor revealing his name, killing all the witnesses? The pursuit of Lily, her fighting back, over Piccadilly Circus, McGregor and the bus, saved? Indiana Jones tone? Academic? Adventure? Lara Croft?
6. The introduction to Frank, on the boat, the prim and proper tourists, his practical jokes, cracking the puns, the local Indians and their performance, the old boat, money and tips, Nico and his wanting his money, Frank and the engine for the boat? Nico owning all the boats, the clashes with Franco? In the bar?
7. Lily and McGregor, the train, the port, her search for a boat, going to Nico’s office, encountering Frank, the negotiations, the arguments, the revelation that Frank was not Nico? Doing the deal? The presence of the Germans, pursuing Lily?
8. The initial adventures with the boat, Lily and her being captured, escaping from the cage? McGregor, all his suitcases, prim and prissy, Frank throwing them overboard? Difficulties with the engine? Setting sail, Frank and his rules? Prince Joe come, the pursuit, the submarine and his henchman?
9. Billy, stubborn English woman, wearing trousers, the nickname Pants? The clashes with Frank? The battle of the sexes? The expedition, Lily and her determination, Frank and his knowledge of the River, the decision to follow the right stream, the rapids and the dangers?
10. The local Indians, the masks, ceremonial, taking everyone capture, the poisoned darts? The rituals, the revelation of the truth? Trader Sam and being in charge, friendship with Lily, advice?
11. The attack of the conquistadors, Frank’s revelation about himself, his cabin, Lily searching, the maps, his being the cartographer?
12. The prince, pursuit, the fights, taking McGregor? McGregor, becoming stronger as the story went on, fisticuffs? But his personal story about his sexual orientation?
13. The conquistadors, Aguirre and his henchmen, the conflict with Frank, the tactics in fights?
14. The moon, the water sinking, the emerging of the city, the tactics for getting the flower, Lily climbing, the moon sinking, one left? The Prince and his attack? Frank and his performance, Billy shooting him (previously extracting the sword from him)? His being frozen? Lily willing to let the flower touching, his revival?
15. The prince, the Germans, his wanting the flower, power, 1000 year Reich? His death – and his German swearing?
16. Frank revived, the return to England, McGregor’s speech and spurning the academics? The car, Frank learning to drive – and the final puns?