Disney’s Jungle Cruise is now available to purchase on Digital and will be released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD November 16. Have you seen it yet? I received a free digital copy of this new movie and can’t wait to share what I thought with you!

About the movie

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.

What I Thought

Jungle Cruise was not exactly what I expected it to be. But then again, I am not sure what I expected. Quite a bit of the jokes from the attraction are used in the movie – and mostly in the first 15 minutes. The adventure aspect was reminiscent of Indiana Jones meets The Mummy(the 1990s version with Brendan Fraiser). But overall, it was well done.

I would be remiss to not acknowledge the female role models in Jungle Cruise. While Dwayne Johnson may be the Skipper, Emily Blunt is the one in charge here – and recreating Trader Sam as a woman was brilliant. At first, my OCD was twitching because everyone knows that Trader Sam from the attraction is a man. Veronica Falcón was brilliant as Trader Sam and you can’t help but like her. Jungle Cruise was set in 1916, during WWI. This was a time where women were frowned upon if they were more than secretaries or housewives. This attitude towards women was highlighted in the beginning of the movie. I was definitely Team Lily.

The Cast

Jungle Cruise stars Dwayne Johnson as Frank Wolff, Emily Blunt as Lily Houghton, Edgar Ramírez as Aguirre, Jack Whitehall as MacGregor Houghton, Jesse Plemons as Prince Joachim, Paul Giamatti as Nilo and Veronica Falcón as Trader Sam. The cast was well chosen. I will admit that the roles of Frank and Lily were  written for Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. I could not picture other actors in these roles.

Bonus Features

If you know me, you know I love good bonus features! Jungle Cruise is full of them. Deleted scenes are always my first go-to. They always offer a deeper insight to a storyline. “Dwayne & Emily: Undoubtedly Funny” is exactly what it says…undoubtedly funny. The chemistry between Dwayne and Emily is perfect. The inclusion of real Jungle Cruise skippers in  “Once a Skip, Always a Skip” was great! I would recommend Jungle Cruise Expedition Mode, but only after having seen the movie. I find that the pop-ups and bonus information can be distracting from the movie if you have not seen it yet. This bonus feature offers a chance for an interactive family movie night or a fun night with pizza on the couch!

  • 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 newfound 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

Be Prepared

Jungle Cruise is rated PG-13 for adventure violence. This may not be very family-friendly for younger ones. While there is nothing overtly inappropriate, Jungle Cruise does have a few moments that could be considered too intense for a young child.

Be prepared – this Jungle Cruise may not be a two-week cruise, but it sure is a lengthy one. Jungle Cruise run time is 127 minutes. Also, there is no end credit scene.

Jungle Cruise Release

Jungle Cruise is available on digital today! If you are looking to purchase the actual Blu-Ray or DVD, look for those in stores and online on November 16th.

disclosure:

We were provided a free digital copy of Jungle Cruise in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. No other compensation was received. 

 

 

 

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