FILM REVIEW: ANACONDA (12A) ESP RATING: 2.5/5

This action-comedy meta-reboot of the cult classic giant snake movie doesn’t quite go ‘all in’ with what it’s trying so hard to be.

It throws a lot of ideas at the wall, but only some stick, and some slither off.

This does have a handful of funny comedic moments – which you’d expect with Jack Black and Paul Rudd in the lead roles – but isn’t as clever as the idea is attempting to accomplish. Almost a bit Jumanji-ish in execution.

A midlife crisis inspires frustrated ex-filmmaker Doug (Black), his failing actor best friend Griff (Rudd) and close pals – recovering addict Kenny (Steve Zahn) and unlucky-in-love Claire (Thandiwe Newton) – to remake their favourite film from their youth in the Amazon rainforest. The iconic (if hard to call a classic) Jennifer Lopez/Ice Cube/Jon Voight-led 1997 horror-thriller Anaconda.

But things go awry when the large snake they are using for their low-budget indie film is accidentally killed – and they then inexplicably attempt to find another one to finish the movie. And they also get embroiled in gang-related gold-trafficking – involving Daniela Melchior’s fugitive Ana – in the process.

The expected comedy hi-jinks ensue as they are all stalked by a gigantic predator – that is even bigger than in the original film – but it all plays out somewhat underwhelmingly with intermittent pockets of fun.

By the close a film that was clearly aiming for something quite innovative ends up being disappointingly formulaic, but a ‘game’ cast – mixed with some humorous interludes and decent jump scares – does make it a watchable slice of cinematic entertainment.

Even though it clearly lacks the gloriously venomous bite of ingenuity it was so sorely striving for.

ESP Rating: 2.5/5

Gavin Miller

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Thandiwe Newton, Steve Zahn, Daniela Melchior, Selton Mello & Ice Cube

Running Time: 1 Hr 39 Mins

Director: Tom Gormican

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

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