The Fandads were provided with a digital copy of Disney’s Jungle Cruise in exchange for a review. All thoughts, opinions, and seasickness are our own.
Remember when Disney came out with the Pirates of the Caribbean movie and people were like, “How is that going to work?”. The next thing we knew, everyone wanted to be Jack Sparrow and we had 5 Pirates of the Caribbean movies. A movie based on a ride actually worked. It worked so well that Disney has decided to do it again with Disney’s Jungle Cruise. Were they able to succeed again? Continue reading to find out.
I’ll admit that when I first heard about this movie I was not that interested. Then the cast was announced and it intrigued me to see how this movie will play out. While my family and I were unable to see it in the theater and did not purchase it on Disney+ I was hearing a lot of great reviews about the movie. Lucky for us we were provided with a digital review copy and we could not wait to watch it.
The Jungle Cruise is a fun ride. The movie is equal parts Indiana Jones mixed with Tomb Raider sprinkled with some Romancing the Stone (if you do not get that reference, go watch that movie). There are a lot of great action sequences like a rickety old boat versus raging rapids and a waterfall and some humorous moments too.
Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are great as the leads in the movie and the fact that she doesn’t need The Rock to help her out of bad situations makes her a fantastic character for this day in time. I love the way men look at her with disdain because she wears pants. It’s funny how they see that as her character not being normal. While the storyline is one that we see often: Looking for an ancient artifact, meeting quirky people, adventures ensue, it stills plays well within this movie.
There are some unexpected twists and turns in the movie and a great moment on acceptance. Jungle Cruise is a great family movie that is sure to get multiple views in our household.
Final Thoughts: Disney’s Jungle Cruise is a lot of fun and will definitely take your family on a fun ride.
Kid-Friendly: Yes! While the spirits of the Conquistador might be a little gruesome for younger kids, older kids should have no issues with them. The scene of the Conquistadors attacking the people of the village might be worrisome for younger children.
Violence: There are some fight scenes in the movie and a machine gun being fired at the main characters, but nothing too violent for a Disney film.
Have you seen the movie? Share with us your thoughts and favorite moments in the comment section and let’s try to keep it spoiler-free.
Disney’s Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, arrives on all major digital platforms on August 31 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on November 16. Jungle Cruise fans can set sail on a rollicking thrill-ride in stunning Ultra HD quality and immersive Dolby Atmos audio, with never-before-seen bonus footage, including 11 deleted scenes, bloopers and featurettes. In addition, families can watch the adventure in a fun, exciting new way with Expedition Mode.
Film Synopsis
Seeking an ancient tree with healing abilities, Dr. Lily Houghton and wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff team up for the adventure-of-a lifetime on Disney’s Jungle Cruise, a rollicking ride down the Amazon. Amidst danger and supernatural forces lurking in the jungle, secrets of the lost tree unfold as their fate—and mankind’s—hangs in the balance.
- Disney’s Jungle Cruise Bonus Features*
- Jungle Cruise Expedition Mode – Climb aboard a ramshackle tramp steamer (or your own couch) to learn fun facts, discover Easter eggs and catch some pop-up trivia throughout the movie.
- It’s A Jungle Out There: Making Jungle Cruise – Director Jaume Collet-Serra, the cast and crew discuss the importance of the film’s elements, from casting to makeup to the use of an ancient indigenous language, in creating the world that honors one of Disneyland’s most beloved rides.
- Dwayne And Emily: Undoubtedly Funny – Go on-set with the two stars, whose new-found friendship helped them project a natural onscreen chemistry. Although their characters challenge each other throughout the film, the actors make each other laugh. A lot!
- Creating The Amazon – Explore the cinematic artistry involved in creating the world of Jungle Cruise, including how Frank’s boat coursed “dangerous” water in a tank in Atlanta, how a town was built in Kauai, and how a ferocious jaguar came to life, among other amazing effects.
- Once A Skip, Always A Skip – Join a panel of “Skippers” at the Disneyland Resort as they reminisce about the rewards, challenges and surprises they’ve experienced while helming the world-famous Jungle Cruise attraction, and hear their advice to aspiring skippers everywhere!
- Outtakes – Step behind the scenes of the production to catch the cast in a series of flubs, falls, foibles — and a whole lot of laughter.
- Deleted Scenes
- MacGregor Drives The Boat
- MacGregor Water Skis
- Joachim And Nilo On The Dock
- Frank Talks To Proxima & Lily’s Nightmares
- Sub Gets Stuck
- Proxima Surprises MacGregor
- Frank Gets The Cold Shoulder
- Trader Sam And Lily Walk In The Jungle
- MacGregor And Trader Sam Say Goodbye
- Frank Makes Tea For Lily
- The Backside Of Water
*bonus features vary by product and retailer