Review of Jungle Cruise (2021) by Bristol — 31 Jul 2021

Films based on theme psrk rides have worked before (Pirates of the Caribbean); and some haven't worked at all (PotC sequels). This one's somewhere in between. There are good things in this film. The leads are excellent, the sets and cgi are very good, and there are a good number of entertaining set pieces.

But it's incredibly uneven in tone. Tension is announced, rather than built, usually accompanied by an incredibly offputting Metallica based theme. The fight scenes are rather graphic for the genre too, putting it up to a 12 certificate (that's correct imo) and outside the ideal demographic.

It would really have benefited from the touch of Speilberg or similar. There's no grandeur or scale to the cinematography and it really suffers for it. If it had decent photography, a Williams-esque soundtrack, and more child friendly action, then it could have been brilliant.

Not everything can be Raiders, but this is doesn't come close.