“Anaconda” trailer
Check out the trailer for Columbia Pictures’ “Anaconda,” featuring Paul Rudd and Jack Black, directed by Tom Gormican.
Sometimes, you have to wonder: why are reboots a thing? They certainly catch a lot of buzz online when they’re announced. Take the original “Anaconda,” a 1997 jungle horror flick with Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, and Jon Voight. It follows a documentary team stuck in the Amazon, battling an enormous mythical snake. Critics weren’t kind, and it was even nominated for a few Razzie Awards, but it made a splash at the box office and has since become a cult classic. But honestly, was there really a demand for a reboot?
Well, when it comes to Sony Pictures, their motto seems to be more about surprise than requests.
In fairness, the studio has a knack for resuscitating classic titles that have been sitting in limbo, and making them feel fresh. Just look at their success with “21 Jump Street” and the recent “Jumanji” films. Now, they’re set to do it again with “Anaconda.”
In this new take, Paul Rudd and Jack Black play Griff and Doug, long-time buddies who dreamt of making it big in showbiz, but, uh, things haven’t panned out. Griff did snag some fame acting in a couple of “SWAT” episodes, but Doug, not quite an aspiring filmmaker, settles for a mundane job as a wedding videographer. He describes his life as a “B, maybe B+ life.”
That changes when Griff announces he’s acquired the rights to “Anaconda,” their childhood favorite. He pitches the idea of a low-budget indie reboot, coaxing Doug and their friends, Claire (Thandiwe Newton) and Kenny (Steve Zahn), who are also feeling stuck in life, to join the adventure. They’re unclear if it’s more of a “reimagining” or a “spiritual sequel.”
They end up flying to Brazil, albeit on a shoestring budget, where they meet Santiago (Selton Melo), a quirky snake charmer, and Ana (Daniela Melchior), a quiet woman who seems to captain their boat, all while evading illegal gold miners.
Filming in the jungle kicks off, and things seem to be going well—until an accident with Santiago’s snake leads to chaos. As Griff and Santiago trek through the jungle looking for a new snake, they stumble upon something far more colossal.
“We came here to make ‘Anaconda,’ and now we’re in it,” Doug realizes, panic setting in.
The charm of this “Anaconda” lies in its self-referential nature. Film enthusiasts will chuckle at Doug and Griff’s passionate takes on the filmmaking process. Director Tom Gormican and co-writer Kevin Enten recently tackled similar meta themes, as seen in “The Unbearable Weight of Talent.” “Anaconda” fits right in with the likes of “21 Jump Street” and “Jumanji”; it’s lighthearted, self-aware, and just plain fun.
Rudd and Black have been solid comedic leads for ages, and they don’t disappoint here. Newton plays Claire, Griff’s ex and a divorced lawyer, adequately, while Zahn stands out as the clumsy, recovering alcoholic Kenny, who handles the camera work.
verdict:
Is “Anaconda” the film we were hoping for? Not exactly. But it gets the job done. While not essential viewing, this meta reboot offers solid entertainment and could be a fun pick for laughs this holiday season. Just a heads-up though—if you’re afraid of snakes, you might want to skip this one.
★★★ — Stream later
“Anaconda” is rated PG-13 for violence/action, strong language, some drug use, and suggestive references. It runs for 1 hour and 39 minutes and hits theaters on Christmas Day.
