Disney's Jungle Cruise brings the lines between past and present together for an entertaining movie that plays off the charm of a beloved Disney Parks attraction. And yes, there's plenty of cheesy jokes and you will see the eighth wonder of the world - the backside of water.
The Jungle Cruise starts in 1916 as Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) searches for an arrowhead that will lead to the Tree of Life (Animal Kingdom anyone?) which produces a rare petal that could cure any illness and help many people in the world. Dr. Houghton, a woman way before her time (she even wears pants!), sets off on a dangerous boat trip up the Amazon with her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) to find the tree. But of course they need a captain who can sail the treacherous waters and that's where we meet Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) who currently runs a sightseeing expedition which seems very familiar to a fan-favorite attraction at the Disney Parks, corny jokes and all.
The trio of an educated fearless woman, a high-class brother and the strong swindler make their way sailing the Amazon and encounter many speed bumps along the river, even Trader Sam. Of course there's the villain and supernatural elements that are also thrown into the mix which provide a twist on Johnson's character that results in a rather "Sleeping Beauty" ending.
Johnson perfectly lands the cheesy jokes that we are all familiar with on the theme park attraction but the real standout is Emily Blunt who is a fearless female Indiana Jones willing to risk it all to save people she doesn't even know. We also can't lose sight of Whitehall who provides an unforgettable scene where he comes out to Frank but it is handled in such a way that makes you love each character even more for their acceptance.
Unlike many previous films that were based on an attraction (I'm looking at you Haunted Mansion) this film hits it out of the park. Jungle Cruise has everything including three charming lead actors, a harrowing adventure, a love story, a villain, supernatural curses, and even a happy ending. The progressive and very fun movie is the family film of the year that cannot be missed!