I did not want to see Jungle Cruise. There, I said it. And I typically never include first person in my reviews, but it’s warranted here. I groaned at the prospect of seeing a big screen adaptation of a Disney attraction, one I was certain was going to be green screen scene after green screen scene. But in all honesty, I loved it. And I laughed a lot. As the credits faded in and out and the text read “Screenplay by Michael Green” it all made sense to me – of course it was. Everwood is, was and always will be my favorite television show of all time and Green being one of it’s key writers, I must have sensed his storytelling touch and regretted my preconceived notions of the film being less than a good time. Also worth crediting co-writers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. 

Director Jaume Collet-Serra Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, encapsulates the spirit of the Disneyland ride that set sail in 1955, Walt Disney in tow. It’s full of color, puns, the roaring hippopotamus and the eight wonder of the world – the backside of water. Add Paul Giamatti and Jesse Plemons to the mix and it’s an “I can’t stop myself from laughing” kind of laugh. There’s something for everyone here – action, adventure, thrills and humor that Johnson and Blunt can deliver easily and naturally. With children, especially, deserving of a solid live action tentpole with silly summer fun, Jungle Cruise fits the bill.