Jungle Cruise has been released, Disney's latest attempt to bring one of its popular attractions to the big screen. But it didn't result in a new Pirates of the Caribbean.

Starting July 29, Russian cinemas will screen Jungle Cruise, the new film by director Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, Non-Stop). Based on the eponymous Disney park attraction, the movie is a quintessential example of so-called ride films. The kind where you switch off your brain, settle comfortably into your seat, and enjoy the creators' numerous attempts to surprise, amuse, frighten you, and craft a fitting adventure atmosphere. Did the film starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt fully succeed? More yes than no. But there are nuances, the main one being its utter lack of originality.

A Setup Like The Mummy

Researcher Lily Houghton (Blunt), who learned from her father's stories about a tree in the Amazon jungle whose petals can cure any disease, decides to find the magical 'artifact' at all costs. Not even tales of ancient curses and lost expeditions can stop her. She manages to find a guide named Frank (Johnson), who claims to know the Amazon inside out, and her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) is ready to follow her 'into the mouth of a volcano'.

From the very beginning, Jungle Cruise suspiciously resembles The Mummy: the same trio of main characters (even the set is similar — a clumsy daredevil, a brave woman, and her bumbling brother), the same mysterious tales of curses and expeditions lost on the way to the goal (gold prospectors replaced by conquistadors). Only instead of scorching Egypt, the equally sweltering upper reaches of the Amazon are chosen as the setting.

But with each passing minute, you begin to realize that this is not some random coincidence, but a quite obvious trend — instead of trying to create something original and unique, the screenwriters decided to borrow techniques and plot points from the most popular adventure films.

The Vibe of Romancing the Stone

Another obvious source of inspiration for Jaume Collet-Serra is the iconic film by Robert Zemeckis with its deliberate silliness (for instance, comedy here is achieved through Johnson's character tirelessly spouting unfunny puns) and sexualized subtext (adjusted for the times). Just look at the cover of this post — it quite unambiguously hints at a connection with Romancing the Stone!

But while the film with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner came across as light, natural, and effortless (even in its most absurd moments), the new Disney film feels much more strained and clunky. Some jokes will make you laugh, but at the same time, they will make you cringe.

Borrowings from Pirates of the Caribbean

Of course, the creators of Jungle Cruise couldn't help but look back at their successful predecessor. But they could have done it much more elegantly and less straightforwardly. Here, an entire storyline and even the character design of supernatural origin are copied one-to-one from the first part of the popular pirate franchise.

And So On Down the List

Even if you miraculously haven't seen the listed films, you still won't be able to shake the feeling of deja vu while watching. This element resembles the adventures of Indiana Jones, and that one was borrowed from The Rundown with the same Johnson, and so on. It feels like screenwriters Glenn Ficarra, John Requa (quite talented guys, by the way) and their assistants decided to practice how many famous works of the past they could quote or copy.

OK, the quotes are clear, what else?

Jungle Cruise turned out to be dynamic and eventful. One moment we're participating in an escape from a submarine with the heroes, and the next we find ourselves in an indigenous shelter, encountering flora and fauna, as well as supernatural forces. The viewer is given almost no time to rest, although a couple of 'heartfelt' scenes were prepared. After all, you'd want to know that Frank isn't just a dumb jock, but also an aspiring musician!

If you set aside the fact that we've essentially seen all this a thousand times, you could say that as a typical summer blockbuster, the film succeeds. Charismatic Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson elevate the weak material to another level. And watching Jesse Plemons portray an ultra-caricatured German officer is a separate pleasure. Add to that beautiful scenery and mostly decent graphics, and you get a one-time, no-strings-attached entertainment.

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