Anaconda - Why'd It Have To Be Snakes?

Just to start...I don't like snakes. They may have thier purpose in nature and they're free to do so. Just as long as it is far FAR away from me.

This movie was a bit of a mixed bag. While it was somewhat enjoyable, it was just as dumb as I thought it would be. It was at times, a little too over the top. There were a few moments that were quite relatable.

Roland Griffin (Paul Rudd) is an L.A. actor who's barely scraping by since his brief time on SWAT. He's mostly relegated to background acting, which he isn't that great at either. His childhood best friend, Doug McCallister (Jack Black), is a wedding videographer, but his passion is still for horror movie directing.

After getting fired from a show, Roland sees a movie poster for the original Anaconda movie. While visiting Doug for his birthday, they watch an old homemade movie they made as kids with their friends Kenny and Claire played by Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton respectively.

When they made the film as kids, they were passionate and ready to go out and achieve their dreams. Life, however, can be a fickle bitch sometimes. It didn't exactly go the way things were planned. Roland is still trying, but Doug has abandoned his dream of making movies and settled for making wedding videos. They've all but accepted their "B+ lives".

Then, Roland claims to have the rights to Anaconda and they're going to do a remake! Their friends are on board and head to the Amazon to make their film...with a less than 10K budget.

As seen in the trailer, they have a trainer and trained Anaconda...but Rudd accidentally kills it when he freaks out being that close to the large, gobble you up in one bite snake. So, Rudd and the trainer go into the jungle to get a new one.

Yeah, that does not go well at all.

The comedy comes from making the movie and the antics of every day people, who should NOT be in the middle of the jungle, escaping from a big giant snake. While there were chuckle moments, it was a bit much at times. Jack Black was his usual over the top self when he's in director mode. Paul Rudd tries to be charming Rudd, but there were points where he was a bit unlikeable.

Not gonna spoil, but two of the better moments were those cameos. You don't expect it. You don't see it coming and then, there it is.

The part of the movie that succeeds is the heart of the movie is about how people can sometimes just settle because it's easier. You have those dreams as a kid growing up, you want to see them through, but life or fears slow you down. You don't achieve the dreams you wanted, but get close enough to them.

Never had I related to something in a movie more. I always wanted to work in Hollywood, become an actor or director. Needless to say, I've never been to Cali and that dream has all but died. Even made a mini-horror movie in high school as a project for Drama class. There were points in my life I could have gone left, but went right instead.

Fear and settling.

They wanted to reclaim their lives again. Roland and Doug took the chance to make this movie together so Roland could show the world what he could do as an actor and Doug could finally direct something he's passionate about. To do what they love again brought that spark back in their lives.

Isn't that what all of us want? Those that life didn't come out the way they hoped?

Life tends to take us exactly where we need to be, but that doesn't mean we have to love where we are. Some people are lucky. You get married, have kids, settle into a life that is rewarding in every way. Even found a job you're great at and love. Others aren't completely lucky like that. They're settled into their lives, but often wish for more. It's finding the things that spark joy in you again is how you can be content with your life.

And maybe if the winds blow right and the sails flow true, you can go out and make your own low-budget movie with friends and escape a killer snake and criminals to achieve a dream.

Dream on...but this is a best a one time watch. Good hook, fun moments, but overall, just okay.

3/5