Anaconda – Budget of $45 million – 1 hour and 39 minutes
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Actor Griff mopes around a studio after a director fires him. He sees an Anaconda movie poster and gets an idea (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). He calls his old friend, Doug, and leaves a message. In high school, Doug would direct and write films, and Griff would act in them. They were supposed to move to LA together, but Doug got cold feet. He stayed in Buffalo, got married, and had a family.
Doug is a wedding videographer. He hates the cheesy productions, but they pay the bills. His boss tells Doug to settle for a B+ life because the business will be his someday. Doug and his wife travel home. She wants Doug to do something for his birthday, but he’s exhausted. He enters his house and finds a surprise party awaiting him. He greets his friend, Claire. She is a divorced attorney. Doug smiles when he sees Griff. It’s unbelievable that Griff made the trip. However, Griff has the ultimate present. He found an old copy of Doug’s first film, The Quinch, stuck in his mom’s VCR. They play the tape, and everyone loves it.
Doug meets Griff, Claire, and their friend, Kenny, for lunch. Griff got the rights to their favorite movie, Anaconda. He wants to travel to the Amazon for 3 weeks and remake the film. Griff wants Doug to direct and write, Kenny to shoot it, and Claire to be his co-star. After a few days, Doug caves and chooses to do the project.
They travel to the Amazon and meet with their snake wrangler, Santiago. Griff can’t believe Kenny got an actual snake for their film. They find their vessel at the dock, but the captain isn’t there. Ana says her father couldn’t make it, but the boat needs repairs. They must find another mode of transportation for their film. They beg her to take them instead. Ana sees the men chasing her approaching, and she relents to the film crew’s demands to save herself. Griff and Doug think they are going to make Anaconda. However, they are about to live it. Who will survive?
Whether you call this a remake, a re-imaging, or a reboot, it’s a funny and scary good time. The film has some parallels with the source material. However, it’s special and a future cult classic. The script takes jabs at itself and Hollywood without being mean. And fans of the original get surprise cameos. The jump scares are properly timed and don’t take away from the humor and friendship. Eagle-eyed viewers should watch for the Jurassic Park moment (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The CGI snake isn’t better in this movie, and that’s comforting. They didn’t try to make the film visually better by making the snake realistic. They relied on the actors to make you believe. And let’s not forget Dawson’s Creek. If you know, you know. The audience should stay for the mid-credit scenes to get another laugh. While you may not buy this film, you will watch it again on streaming for the jokes you missed. This picture isn’t perfect, but it’s a mindless, good time.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
You could be the white Jordan Peele – Griff
May the sounds of the forest be the music in your dreams – Santiago
Now that’s how you head butt – Claire
Every good film needs a bit of a twist – Ana
Let’s just take a gummy and go to bed early – Doug
I’m Buffalo sober – Kenny
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Categories: Anaconda, Daniela Melchior, In The Theater, jack black, movie, paul rudd, review, Selton Mello, Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton
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