Disney’s Jungle Cruise is a fun yet forgettable adventure yarn that makes good use of its three leads, Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, and Jesse Plemons.
The Production: 3.5/5
Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) are in search of a magical tree in the jungles of South America that legend says has healing powers. After stealing the arrowhead that could lead them to the tree, they charter a run-down boat captained by the down-on-his-luck Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson). Hot on their trail is Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons) in his WWI German submarine. Who wants the powers of that tree to help him win the war. That is pretty much the plot of Jungle Cruise, but as thin as it is, it is one of the better Disney theme park attraction-inspired films to come out of the studio (not quite the level of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, but infinitely better than The Country Bears). Johnson and Blunt have great chemistry together, and Plemons does what he does best, playing a character who is trying to keep his craziness under control but lets it slip subtly through his way of delivering lines (Breaking Bad, Game Night). The movie, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (who has worked almost exclusively with Liam Neeson up to this point on Unknown and The Commuter, and reteaming with Johnson on the upcoming Black Adam), is a mix of Romancing the Stone and Pirates of the Caribbean, with an obvious homage to The African Queen.
Video: 5/5
3D Rating: NA
Jungle Cruise was an all-digital production which I assume was completed as a 4K digital intermediate, with Dolby Vision high dynamic range for its premium theatrical and streaming engagements. Disney’s UHD disc release contains a wonderfully cinematic HEVC-encoded 2160p transfer with HDR10 high dynamic range. Compared to the very good Blu-ray edition (included in this set), the UHD is noticeably darker overall with better contrast and highlights, providing deep blacks and excellent shadow details. Colors are more natural with its wider color gamut, vivid without appearing overly saturated. Fine detail is also excellent in regards to facial features such as beard stubble and beads of sweat, fabric textures, etc.
Audio: 5/5
The disc’s default Dolby Atmos track is proof that perhaps Disney is learning how to mix these tracks for home use. Once we arrive in South America, the track becomes incredibly immersive, with jungle sounds emanating in front, above, and behind you. LFE is strong, emphasizing crashes, explosions, and roaring rapids. Dialogue is clear and understandable throughout.
Special Features: 3/5
As typical for a Disney release, there are no special features to be found on the UHD disc, but can be located on the included Blu-ray edition of the film. These amount to the usual EPK-style featurettes.
Expedition Mode: When hitting PLAY on the Blu-ray disc, the viewer is given the option to watch the film with or without a trivia track.
It’s a Jungle Out There: Making “Jungle Cruise” (1080p; 12:58): Typical EPK-style behind the scenes look at the film with its references to the famous theme park ride.
Dwayne and Emily: Undoubtedly Funny (1080p; 5:10): The two stars gush over working with each other.
Creating the Amazon (1080p; 15:14): A look at the many different ways the filmmakers brought the Amazon to life.
Once a Skip, Always a Skip (1080p; 14:00): Skippers from the Disneyland ride share their experiences.
Deleted Scenes (1080p; 15:56): Eleven scenes are included – 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, and The Backside of Water.
Outtakes (1080p; 2:25): Typical gag reel.
Digital Copy: An insert contains a code to redeem a digital copy in UHD on Movies Anywhere.
Overall: 4/5
Jungle Cruise is two-hours of forgettable fun, with a scene stealing performance by Jesse Plemons.
Todd Erwin has been a reviewer at Home Theater Forum since 2008. His love of movies began as a young child, first showing Super 8 movies in his backyard during the summer to friends and neighbors at age 10. He also received his first movie camera that year, a hand-crank Wollensak 8mm with three fixed lenses. In 1980, he graduated to "talkies" with his award-winning short The Ape-Man, followed by the cult favorite The Adventures of Terrific Man two years later. Other films include Myth or Fact: The Talbert Terror and Warren's Revenge (which is currently being restored). In addition to movie reviews, Todd has written many articles for Home Theater Forum centering mostly on streaming as well as an occasional hardware review, is the host of his own video podcast Streaming News & Views on YouTube and is a frequent guest on the Home Theater United podcast.
Post Disclaimer
Some of our content may contain marketing links, which means we will receive a commission for purchases made via those links. In our editorial content, these affiliate links appear automatically, and our editorial teams are not influenced by our affiliate partnerships. We work with several providers (currently Skimlinks and Amazon) to manage our affiliate relationships. You can find out more about their services by visiting their sites.
Similar threads
- Todd Erwin
- Blu-ray and UHD
2 3