Admittedly, when the eyebrow-raising first trailer for this Queensland-shot Anaconda dropped, it felt as though the filmmakers had struck a purposeful chord. The promise wasn’t a snarky comedy remake but a loving meta-sequel reboot with genuine ambition. And while meta-induced mayhem ensues, it quickly becomes clear that this horror comedy, despite gesturing toward the nostalgic, self-aware fun of Be Kind Rewind, with Jack Black once again at the forefront, has something slightly amiss beneath the slithering surface.
It’s been almost 30 years since a beefed-up Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube and co went up against the gigantic titular threat in the original CGI-heavy, unintentionally camp creature feature, which ultimately proved far less unsettling than its smart, gruesome tagline promised: “When you can’t breathe, you can’t scream!”.
Coming from the mind behind The Incredible Weight of Massive Talent, director Tommy Gormican delivers an equally self-aware romp. It features comedy heavyweights Jack Black, Paul Rudd, and Steve Zahn, alongside Thandiwe Newton, as a group of fifty-something amateur filmmaker friends. They attempt to relive their glory days by remaking their favourite movie, having supposedly secured the rights. Midlife crises, misplaced ambition, and nostalgia-fuelled chaos collide, proving that reviving a cult classic is never as straightforward as intended.
Paul Rudd steals the show as an ambitious yet lowly bit-part actor. An early scene in which he hopelessly rereads lines for added dramatic flair in a TV hospital series is a scream. While there are amusing nods to the half-baked original and hilarious interludes, such as a squealing pig on Jack Black’s fleeing head, the film falls short of the terror, suspense, or wild fun it promises. That said, a poignant beating heart emerges most clearly by the closing credits (yes, stay for a mid-credits surprise), leaving a touching farewell to these likeable friends and their chaotic, nostalgic journey.
Anaconda will be released in cinemas on 26th December
Find more reviews, news, exclusive celebrity interviews and more at SciFiNow
