Anaconda

I have an affinity for movies set in exotic locations. I have no interest in going anywhere near the Amazon Rainforest at any stage in my life, so I enjoy it vicariously through film. I wasn't really sure what to expect from 'Anaconda', and even though it was a little messy and needed to correct the ship a few times, it found its way to being a pretty entertaining 99 minutes.

The cast make this movie almost impossible to hate. Four of the most likable people working today, all playing great characters that suit them perfectly. It really is the spine that holds the movie together, even when it's threatening to fall off the rails.

The plot is so-so. I get that you need a reason for these normal people to venture out to the Amazon, and it works in that sense, but it doesn't lead to as much fun as you'd hope. I also could've done without the side-story involving the criminals. It dragged the film down a bit and didn't add much.

The actual horror involving the snake was interesting. If the director was asked on a scale of 1-10 how aggressive he wanted it to be, he definitely said 15. Also the jump scares are extremely loud and vigorous. Be ready for that.

There's a great scene in this movie involving a spider bite and what happens after. It's the kind of thing that comedy movies used to be riddled with and it was so good to venture back to what felt like the good old days. A very funny scene indeed.

I had a pretty good time with this movie. It works as a horror and it works as a comedy. It finds a good balance between the two. 7/10.

Anaconda (2025) Follows a group of people who adored the original Anaconda (1997) and wanted to recreate something like it, but then while filming in a real island full of snakes, everything goes wrong. Wow, just reading this made me lose my braincells. The movie was pretty funny and had some stupid jokes that still made me laugh, Jack Black and Paul Rudd do a pretty good job and the movie was enjoyable for me. The movie while funny, its not really the the best movie if looking at the plot. The movie felt like it had no plot, it would go from this to that and again to this then going back. Everything else is okay I guess, but if you wanna turn your brain off and watch a pretty enjoyable and entertaining film, Anaconda does that pretty well. (Also if you love this franchise theres cameos)

This is a fun silly romp through the Amazon Rain Forest in Brazil, with a big snake that is dwarfed by a monster snake. Plenty of fast paced action with hilarious gag bits and stupidly humorous jokes dispersed throughout. If you can't laugh at this movie, then you need to stop being a crumudgeon and let your inner 13 year old out for a breather and a few laughs...

This movie knows exactly what it is-a big, dumb comedy-and fully leans into it. The pacing is fast, the jokes keep coming, and it never really drags. Steve Zahn completely steals the show, delivering the kind of over-the-top comedic performance he does best. There's a lot of cussing, so it's definitely not family-friendly, but the humor lands more often than not. If you're looking for something smart and deep, this isn't it-but if you want a genuinely funny, turn-your-brain-off popcorn movie, this one delivers.

Anaconda (2025) may have left me a bit disappointed overall, but it still delivers enough dumb fun thanks to Jack Black and Paul Rudd to make it at least somewhat worthwhile.

This movie's been on my radar since the first teaser dropped. I'm a big fan of Jack Black and the high energy he brings to the projects he's in, and Paul Rudd has always been an actor I've enjoyed in movies.

That said, I went in with reasonable expectations for this movie and 50% of the time I got what I was looking for, and 50% of the time I was left wanting more of what was marketed.

The premise itself is actually pretty fun. Jack Black's Doug and Paul Rudd's Griff are trying to fulfill their childhood dreams by making an Anaconda reboot deep in the jungles of Brazil, until a giant anaconda shows up and turns their movie into a reality. On paper, that's a great hook and when the film actually leans into this idea, it works. The first act does a solid job setting up the characters, the story, and the tone, which honestly made me optimistic going forward.

Unfortunately, the movie starts to lose itself in a messy second act that focuses heavily on a completely unnecessary subplot that goes absolutely nowhere. This detour pulls attention away from the actual selling points and leads to some poorly written explanations as for why these events are unfolding in this story and nothing burger twists. By the time the third act rolls around, the movie goes fully over the top, but this is also where it becomes the most entertaining. It leans into that so bad it's good energy I was expecting and delivers some genuinely fun moments that properly utilize the actual anaconda and the interactions it has with our man crew.

With that said, plot wise there's definitely a lot of wasted potential here. With a tighter structure and a stronger focus on its core ideas, this could've been way better. Still, it manages to deliver some entertaining scenes and even sneaks in a decent message, all while having fun with its parody elements.

Where the movie really gains its footing is in the performances. Jack Black and Paul Rudd are clearly having a blast, and that enthusiasm is what carries the film. When the movie actually commits to its premise watching these two compliment each other in increasingly ridiculous situations is easily the highlight. Steve Zahn is also pretty funny here, with some laugh out loud moments.

Overall, this meta reboot of Anaconda has plenty of shortcomings, no question. But thanks to its cast, it ends up being more fun-bad than just flat-out bad.