The ’90s were a magnificent time for blockbuster monster movies. Deep Blue Sea. The Mummy. Jurassic Park, if you count that (I do). Creature feature spectacles loaded with hot cast names, dazzling sets, and eye-popping animatronics. Anaconda (1997) arrived right in the middle of that boom. It offered a B-movie premise with high-level execution—minus some dated CG—slithering to massive box-office success and multiple sequels. Decades later, director Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) has arrived with a meta requel that sheds the horror of the original and leans all the way into the silliness.
Doug (Jack Black) is a middle-aged father and husband who once dreamed of becoming a filmmaker. Now, he makes dull wedding videos for a career. He’s living a solid B of a life, maybe even a B+ with an upcoming promotion. When his failed-actor-of-a-best-friend, Griff (Paul Rudd), pays a visit from LA, all of that changes. Because Griff has managed to get his hands on the rights to one of their favorite films growing up, Anaconda. Together with their other childhood friends, Kenny (Steve Zahn) and Claire (Thandiwe Newton), they set off to the Amazon to reboot the franchise. After an unfortunate accident kills the snake they’ve rented, the crew must hunt down a new one. But there’s already a much larger…and hungrier…anaconda hunting them.
Perhaps you’re tired of reboots. Or the obvious cash grabs. And maybe you despise constant fan service. I’m with you. But Gormican’s Anaconda has a secret ingredient that allows it to rise above all of that…actual sincerity. The core characters are a group of diehard horror fans who grew up watching Anaconda together. We all have that not-so-excellent film that made an impression on us at a young age. For them, it was J-Lo taking on a giant snake and Jon Voight’s absurd accent. They quote Luis Llosa’s monster movie with an infectious love that may make you reconsider your own appreciation for it. Yes, there are frequent nods to the original. Yes, there are cameos explicitly meant as fan service. But unlike other modern excavations of classic titles, there’s a sense of unbridled joy in poking fun at the original while admiring the effect it had on a generation.
This Anaconda owes much to a cast bristling with chemistry. Both Jack Black and Paul Rudd have stated how badly they wanted to work together, and that shows. Similar to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent with Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal, the heart of the film comes from the pair’s interactions together. It’s not just the jokes, either (many of which had me giggling like the juvenile soul I am). Gormican thrives on telling human stories revolving around reaching for impossible dreams. Black and Rudd’s characters ooze a passion for filmmaking that makes you want to run out and chase your own desires. Though not the greatest film in either’s repertoire, each actor gives it their comedic all. My one complaint with the cast is the underutilization of Daniela Melchior. She’s too talented to have so little to do as a woman on the run encountered by the crew.
On that note, the filmmakers have more than a vicious anaconda and an overdoing-it Jon Voight to contend with this time around. Chasing Melchior’s character are suspected gold miners who are armed to the teeth. Their presence offers a scenario that, as Doug references, “raises the stakes.” But in actuality, all they really do is distract from the anaconda carnage in a sub-plot with twists and turns you’ll see coming from a mile away. Unlike its predecessor, this Anaconda’s hiss is stronger than its bite. During the few moments that the film allows for it, Gormican struggles to build suspense, opting for a few quick (though effective) jump scares instead. Not to mention, the entirely CG snake pales in comparison to the terror inspired by the animatronic from the original.
Horror is neither the strength of Anaconda nor is it intended to be. Instead, Gormican crafts an entertaining adventure that’s fun for the whole family. It’s more in line with the recent Jumanji films than anything remotely resembling the original. Yet that works, because we’re seeing the story of the first film through the bright eyes of fans who grew up adoring it. Gormican’s take reflects the sort of giddy wonder that comes with reaching for the stars. It becomes a running joke that the characters need “themes” in their movie. They even lay out the generic premise of the anaconda representing the way life comes at you when you grow complacent. While Anaconda squeezes every last ounce possible from that notion, it does so with a charm that endears more than it gets the eyes rolling. Or popping, if you happen to become a victim of the giant snake.
I don’t have the same adoration for the original that the characters of Gormican’s film do. Luckily, that’s not a requirement to enjoy this version. Between a charismatic cast, over-the-top meta humor, and an infectious love for the art of filmmaking, there’s plenty to get wrapped up in for a heartwarming experience…fan of the original or not. Is the new Anaconda the “greatest movie in the world”? No. But it is a great tribute to the types of under-loved films that sparked a passion for young movie fans everywhere. With any luck, perhaps this new take will act as a gateway for young audiences into horror. Only time will tell.
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