The Anaconda reboot misses the mark, but features a great, fun comedy duo of Paul Rudd and Jack Black.

by Henry Pham

This film is aimed squarely at teenagers, adults, and those who grew up with the original classic. Anaconda serves as a reboot to the 1997 cult film, which was directed by Luis Llosa and featured actors Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stolz, Jonathan Hyde, and Owen Wilson. This reboot follows two best friends, Griff and Doug, who have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favorite movie “Anaconda.” When a midlife crisis pushes them to finally go for it, they assemble a crew and head deep into the jungles of the Amazon to start filming. However, life soon imitates art when a gigantic anaconda with a thirst for blood starts hunting them down.

Paul Rudd (Ant-Man films) and Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda films) star in the film as actor Ronald “Griff” Griffin Jr. and wedding photographer Doug McCallister. In the film, the two meet up for the first time in years, with Doug celebrating his birthday with his family and friends. Griff declares that he has bought the rights to  “Anaconda,” giving him and Doug an opportunity to reboot the movie, a childhood dream that has been tossed aside. Rudd and Black are amazing, with Black utilising his Jumanji performance and character development in this film.

The other supporting actors, including Steve Zahn (War for the Planet of the Apes) as Kenny, Thandiwe Newton (Crash) as Claire, and Selton Mello (I’m Still Here) as snake handler Santigo, add humour to the story. Daniela Melchior (The Suicide Squad) portrays her antagonistic role as gold-seeking prospector Ana. Lastly, actors Jennifer Lopez (Ice Age films, Hustlers) and Ice Cube (Boyz n the Hood), who both appeared in the 1997 film, cameo in this film.

Tom Gormican writes, produces, and directs this piece. It marks his third directorial effort following That Awkward Moment (which stars Zac Efron) and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (which featured Oscar winner Nicolas Cage). Its themes include one’s own dreams, movie themes, the dangers of filmmaking, action, real-life adventure, and near-death experiences. In the end, it’s all about being together. The cinematography is not bad, while the comedy and dialogue are humorous.

However, the comedy is too much for the overwhelming plotline to follow, which may be distracting for the viewers. The film’s pacing is also an issue, as the film runs at 99 minutes, leading the scenes to feel short, rushed, and forced. My main wish is that this action-adventure film would be long (like two hours), but that is all there is to it. Some moments may feel ambiguous, which can be difficult for the audience to understand, especially those who haven’t seen the original yet. The character development of the characters needs work, especially on the villains, while the CGI and visual effects are sloppy and messy.

The Anaconda reboot misses the mark, but features a great, fun comedy duo of Paul Rudd and Jack Black. I enjoyed seeing Rudd and Black on the big screen as they provide nothing but a bunch of laughs and surprises along the way. Even though this comedy-adventure movie may not be perfect, it is fun and I can’t wait to see these two actors working together again in the future. They are most certainly a fun-loving duo to watch. The story does give me some Jumanji and Jurassic Park vibes, as the references from these two franchises are widely clever, fun, and hilarious. And don’t forget that Jack Black is preparing for the fourth Jumanji movie coming up. Fans of the original film and Jumanji might appreciate this piece more than others. One more thing, this movie contains some strong language, smaller jump scares, and comedy-infused material that may be comical and goofy throughout the film.

GRADE: D+