I was talking recently about Disney films with another cinema friend of mine. I had just seen Jungle Cruise and I was describing its visual grandeur, brilliant filmmaking and cinematographic environment. The film also has a plot that is inviting, but I said that for this Disney production it is the wonderful 3D effects that really makes the film invigorating.

Jungle Cruise is about travelers who are on a journey to find an ancient tree with healing powers. The guide for the trip is Frank Wolff, played by Dwayne Johnson, who has a mischievous side. The other main characters who take the big risk to join Wolff through uncharted territory are Dr. Lily Houghton, played by Emily Blunt, and her clumsy husband MacGregor, played by Jack Whitehall.

Jungle Cruise is of course based on the Disney theme park riverboat ride of the same name. For families who have taken their kid to Disneyland, the riverboat adventures of Jungle Cruise will create a connection that families will love. And Johnson and Blunt are fabulous in Jungle Cruise.

I love how Johnson plays his role. He doesn’t take situations seriously, and this causes some catastrophes, but his previous experiences help him to ultimately be successful. I also love how Blunt questions Johnson’s judgment, which is a recipe for a disaster in the beginning. But as the journey progresses there is less questioning of one another and many heartfelt moments follow. Johnson and Blunt just have wonderful chemistry that makes for a wild ride with many surprises.

Jungle Cruise was pure joy from start to finish. It was funny and the nature settings done in full and wondrous 3D is truly Disney at its best, providing many connecting moments for families and fans. Three and a half stars for Jungle Cruise.

Free Guy is a creative and fun comedy that fits Ryan Reynolds perfectly. Director Shawn Levy brings us a ride of laughs and twists, and Reynold’s humor drives those two elements. It is innovative and hilarious on many levels. Free Guy’s approach is similar to Deadpool (2016), but without the excessive swearing and weird innuendo. People of all ages will be able to connect with its humor and will have a good time.

In Free Guy, Reynolds is Guy, a bank teller that realizes he is an NPC (non-player character) in a video game that is open world. Guy takes his chances in the video-game world to live his virtual life to the fullest. He begins to find ways to level himself up to earn more in the video game. He faces challenges along the way that contain hilarious twists, as well as some glitches. And Reynolds is not the only great character in Free Guy. Jodie Comer plays Millie, who Guy has a crush on. Lil Rel Howery is Buddy, Guy’s colleague and best friend. Taika Waititi is Antoine, the game’s creator, who only wants big profits for the game. Everyone associated with Free Guy adds fun and humor to the film

Free Guy may seem a bit ridiculous at times, but it’s clever. I loved how the film connects elements that many gamers will know about. No spoilers here, though; the audience will have to find the elements for themselves. I also loved that Free Guy gives more than the audience expects. The film is full of surprises, and in those moments there’s no better fit than Ryan Reynolds.

I laughed often throughout Free Guy. Honestly, anything with Ryan Reynolds is a joy, and I know that this film will touch gamers and families alike with its entertaining humor. Three and a half stars for Free Guy.

In Ema, Director Pablo Lorraín delivers a confusing and frivolous drama that will be challenging to watch for many audiences. Ema has a unique setup, but it is a mix of weird music, unexplained conflicts, and a situation gone awry that is just a mess. I found myself intrigued with fragments of this Spanish language film, but I was also consistently lost with the plot.
 

Ema is set in the port city of Valparaiso, Chile. The film focuses on Ema, played by Mariana Di Girolamo, and Gaston, played by Gael Garcia Bernal, a couple who are on harsh terms after an adoption that fell through. Ema is a dancer and she takes a break from Gaston to recuperate after the failed adoption, but she is not recuperating in the healthiest ways. She ends up in a spiral of affairs and she falls in with the wrong crowd.

Where I became lost with Ema was its screenplay. Often, the conversations just did not add up or did not feel realistic. The scoring, the lighting and the cinematography were fine, but the screenplay lacked realism. The film seemed to be trying to present a haunting view with some weird technological tricks, and there were some positive moments, but those were brief.

As for Bernal, his talent and emotion does show through at times, but this was probably my least favorite film that he has starred in. Amores Perros (2000), The Motorcycle Diaries (2004), and Rosewater (2014) were brilliant films, but Ema is just average, despite Bernal’s emotional acting.

I will admit that I did not have the highest expectations for Ema and, again, there were some positives. But this is a film that I will give just two stars.