Disney’s receiving mixed reviews, the question is whether or not it’s the hit Disney hoped for.
The film stars Dwayne Johnson as a smooth-talking riverboat operator charged with guiding Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and her brother through a cursed jungle to find the legendary Tears of the Moon. Along their way, they are pursued by a deranged German aristocrat (Jesse Plemons), who's hoping to utilize the powers of the tree to win WWI. This film is filled with sensational action sequences that make for a classic adventure in the vein of Pirates of the Caribbean. Additionally, The Rock delivers a solid performance by balancing physicality, humor, and his larger-than-life personality.
Nonetheless, every star is bound to have their fair share of hits and failures, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is no exception. Fortunately, Jungle Cruise is a hit, with the film bringing in over $34 million, which sured Disney’s predictions of a $25-$30 million domestic opening. A clear box office success, the Critics’ Consensus found on Rotten Tomatoes agrees, describing the film as a “fun, family-friendly voyage.” However, despite its financial success, the film will ultimately be considered an overall average film thanks to reviews from critics and audiences.
As of August 2, 2021, Jungle Cruise sits with a 62% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer based on 268 reviews. This means the film is still considered “Fresh,” albeit just barely, as the cut-off for this designation is 60%. The movie's Rotten Tomatoes’ Audience Score is a different story entirely: Currently, the film holds a 93% Audience Score based on more than 2,500 verified reviews. While Audience Scores are often higher, this is especially true of the Jungle Cruise movie. This is significant because it would give it the highest rating of any of Dwayne Johnson’s movies to date.
The second highest Audience Score belongs to Dwayne Johnson’s lowest ranked film by far.
Clearly audiences enjoying every minute of Disney’s newest ride-inspired film. This is likely thanks to The Rock’s talent of simply being himself while delivering cheesy dad jokes and engaging in over-the-top action. Ironically, these are likely the same reason for the film's mediocre Tomatometer score. Jungle Cruise, while not the greatest film in The Rock’s filmography, will likely go down as a classic family-friendly adventure film with a heart-warming story and sensational action.
