--- title: "Jungle Cruise: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/jungle-cruise/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/jungle-cruise" critics_score: 56 critics_reviews: 25 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Jungle Cruise (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 56 from 25 reviews: 7 positive, 11 mixed, 7 negative. The consensus on Jungle Cruise is mixed, with praise concentrating on the cast rather than the adventure itself. Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson receive frequent credit for keeping familiar material lively, and Blunt’s energy earns particular approval. Several reviews enjoy the old-fashioned escapism, physical comedy and early banter. Even some of the negative assessments find the leads appealing, while Jesse Plemons attracts praise for his playful menace. The divide is wide: what some critics find cheerfully familiar, others find derivative and short on thrills. Reservations cluster around the cluttered plot, conspicuous CGI and length, though the action staging has its defenders. Little White Lies finds substantial family fun despite a dragging final act, whereas the Los Angeles Times argues that artificial-looking effects prevent immersion. Chemistry is another point of disagreement: many reviews consider the central pairing a strength, but The Guardian finds it lacking. ## Little White Lies — Lou Thomas Rating 3/4/4. 27 July 2021. Thomas calls it a tremendously fun, subtly progressive family blockbuster. He praises the charismatic leads and lively performances, while noting that the final act drags and some CGI is ropey. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/jungle-cruise) ## Radio Times — Huw Fullerton Rating 4/5. 27 July 2021. The review calls the film an enjoyable romp despite its lack of originality. It singles out its slick, fun, genuinely entertaining approach for praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/jungle-cruise-review-disney-plus-comment/) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Rating B. 1 August 2021. Ide finds the adventure familiar and its leads’ lack of chemistry disappointing, though it remains a decent family film. She particularly praises Emily Blunt’s lively performance as Lily Houghton. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/01/jungle-cruise-review-emily-blunt-dwayne-johnson-disney) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2021. The review presents the film as a rousing period spectacle. It singles out Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson’s Amazon adventure as its appeal. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/jungle-cruise-review/5161911.article) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2021. Gleiberman finds the film lively and enjoyable, praising its old-fashioned escapism despite its overstuffed, bumptious ride. He singles out the plucky chemistry between Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson, while noting that the romance can feel like another special effect. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/the-jungle-cruise-review-emily-blunt-dwayne-johnson-1235023554/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so its critical verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be verified from the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jungle-cruise-movie-review-2021) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 2021. The review's verdict cannot be determined from the page content provided. No specific praise or complaint is visible in the accessible material. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/29/movies/jungle-cruise-review.html) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating C+. 27 July 2021. The critic finds the film watchable but lacking in bigger thrills and inventive action. Blunt’s energetic performance is singled out for helping enliven a collection of familiar character clichés. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-rock-and-emily-blunt-cant-steer-disneys-jungle-crui-1847365832) ## Time Out — Olly Richards Rating 3/5. 26 July 2021. Richards describes the film as a gently enjoyable ride. He singles out the extra thrill of Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson’s odd-couple pairing. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/jungle-cruise-2021) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 3/5. 27 July 2021. Smith finds the adventure entertaining but exhausting because it tries to do too much. He praises Johnson and Blunt’s physical performances and the focused action set pieces. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/jungle-cruise-review/) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating C. 27 July 2021. Ehrlich finds the adventure diverting at times but ultimately too hollow and overlong to sustain its fun. He singles out Jesse Plemons’s performance as a standout amid the film’s unconvincing jungle setting. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/jungle-cruise-review-disney-movie-1234653808/) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 2/4. 27 July 2021. Cole finds the film formulaic and its humor and character dynamics unconvincing, though it is streamlined. He praises Collet-Serra’s tactile visual details and clear action staging. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/jungle-cruise-review-dwayne-johnson-emily-blunt-disney/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2021. Chang finds the adventure derivative and unconvincing, despite capable leads and some enjoyable wordplay. He particularly faults its artificial-looking CGI, which leaves the film without real thrills or a sense of immersion. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-07-27/jungle-cruise-review-disney-dwayne-johnson-emily-blunt) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2021. Rooney finds the film overcomplicated and ultimately not good, despite its polished production. He praises the appealing leads’ chemistry and the sequence introducing Frank, which he says better connects the story to the ride. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/dwayne-johnson-and-emily-blunt-in-jungle-cruise-1234988064/) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2021. The review finds the film watchable but overly derivative, with its stars doing most of the work. It praises Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson’s lively pairing while faulting the recycled adventure beats. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/jungle-cruise/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2021. Ebiri finds the film a disappointing, safety-first adventure that fails to deliver on its swashbuckling promise. He praises the energetic early sequences and the flashback showing how the supernatural villains were cursed. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-disneys-jungle-cruise-starring-the-rock.html) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds the film an enjoyable, overstuffed summer adventure with a classic spirit and modern spectacle. It especially praises the chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, while noting that a late twist threatens to capsize the plot. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/jungle-cruise-film-review-disney-3003936) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3.5/5. 27 July 2021. Crow finds the film a delightful, old-school adventure, though its plot gets cluttered and some visual effects distract. He especially praises the appealing chemistry and performances of Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/jungle-cruise-review-dwayne-johnson-emily-blunt/) ## Digital Spy — Gabriella Geisinger Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 27 July 2021. The review finds the film entertaining but only adequate, held back by familiar adventure-movie beats and uneven visual effects. It singles out Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson’s chemistry and performances as the film’s biggest strength. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a37142040/jungle-cruise-review-disney-emily-blunt-dwayne-johnson/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 6/10. 27 July 2021. Spiegel finds Jungle Cruise a decent, solid summer adventure, but says its many borrowings make it disappointing beside the films that inspired it. He praises the chemistry between Johnson and Blunt, while criticizing the conspicuous CGI and underdeveloped representation. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/582869/jungle-cruise-review-a-decent-adventure-that-owes-a-lot-to-other-films/) ## The Playlist — Nick Allen Rating C-. 27 July 2021. The review finds the adventure shallow and increasingly weighed down by its CGI, despite its stars’ charms. It praises the early banter between Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson, but faults the humor and underwhelming emotional beats. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/jungle-cruise-review-dwayne-johnson-emily-blunt-20210727/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2021. The critic finds the film a breezy but ultimately forgettable diversion, weighed down by excessive CGI and wasted thematic potential. They praise Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson’s lively performances and the fun of their mismatched adventure pairing. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/jungle-cruise-film-review-dwayne-johnson-emily-blunt/) ## Paste — Jacob Oller Rating 4.3/10. 27 July 2021. Oller finds the adventure mediocre, tonally confused, and inferior to the films it imitates. He singles out Jesse Plemons’s playful, menacing performance as the strongest work in the cast. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/disney/jungle-cruise-review) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2021. Nayman finds some wit and charm in the film but concludes that Disney’s franchise machinery overwhelms Collet-Serra’s distinctive touch. He praises the lively chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, while criticizing the clumsy mythology and checkbox-like attempts at political progressiveness. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2021/07/30/movies/jungle-cruise-review-dwayne-johnson-disney) ## HeyUGuys — Jack Hawkins Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film mediocre, with its promising old-fashioned adventure undermined by excessive fantasy and weak chemistry. MacGregor’s coming-out scene is singled out for a sensitive, thoughtful treatment of a familiar stereotype. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/jungle-cruise-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/jungle-cruise.md