Anaconda: I Like Big Snakes and I Cannot Lie

By John Kirk

Rating: B+

With Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” serving as the movie’s dominant musical strain, it’s clear that that Anaconda doesn’t take itself seriously … and neither should we.

But there’s another level of appreciation that makes it more complex than it seems.

Here’s the basic thrust of the film: lifelong friends, Doug (Jack Black), Griff (Paul Rudd), Kenny (Steve Zahn) and Claire (Thandiwe Newton), who used to make amateur films as kids, reunite at Doug’s birthday. When failing actor, Griff, reveals that he has the rights to the 1997 action film Anaconda, he convinces them to travel to the Amazon and shoot a re-make. When a real monstrous anaconda appears, the re-boot becomes a fight to stay alive.

While refilming Anaconda, Jack Black and Paul Rudd encounter an anaconda. Go figure.

On one level Anaconda is a straightforward situational comedy where everything that can go wrong does, to a hilarious level. It isn’t much of a surprise to the audience though, as the premise of the film is pretty blatantly laid out. The audience knows what it’s going to get.

That’s a strength. After all, even though the humour is well-telegraphed, it’s satisfying. The delivery is well-timed and the combination of jump-scares and tried gags works to an entertaining level that can’t be denied.

But, combined with the tried-and-true gag nature of the film though, there’s also a meta level of appreciation that must be embraced for the gag to work. Like I said, the film doesn’t take itself seriously. It knows what it’s about and with its roots in the 1997 film, it frequently reaches back to J-Lo and Ice Cube references.

But with those references and other call-backs to the ’97 film, along with the simultaneous mysterious sub-plot of Ana (Daniela Melchior), their boat-captain and guide on the rivers, there’s enough to keep the audience engaged, wondering how the film will incorporate all those connections.

A key element to its success is also, obviously, the performances. With heavy hitters like Black and Rudd, that should be unexpected.

Surprisingly, Rudd initiates most of the comedic situations, playing the role of an insecure and clueless actor. He’s the story-starter as a down-on-his-luck actor who re-connects with his friends, trying to capture that spark of creativity. There’s a note of nostalgia in his performance: an audience-friendly vibe that manages to strike home.

Zahn playfully presents his character’s multiple personality flaws. He gets the most laughs, and out of the four friends, he’s the one who stands out - which is additionally surprising, in an ensemble with Jack Black.

Black is usually the source of laughs, but he can collaborate as a wingman too. His full comedic range seems restrained and it isn’t until the latter half of the film, when the situations get really hairy  that we see the chaos of Black’s comedy come out. In the beginning, it’s a bit of a hard sell to see Black as the straight man but the guy knows how to make comedy work in an ensemble.

This is a bit of a weird role for Thandiwe Newton. It falls to her to do the boring stuff like financing and due diligence. While there aren’t a lot of demands on her character, it’s strange to see such a celebrated actress in a role that doesn’t require her star power.

The obligatory snake encounter is what you’d expect. I mean, again – it’s been telegraphed simply with the title. You KNOW there’s a giant snake encounter coming. How they deal with it is fun, but also predictable.

The comedy level is well-sustained throughout the film. There is no shortage of comedy in the first half. But it really is the second half when one is able to stop making the predictions and relax into the laughs. At that point, all snake hell breaks loose and the pace accelerates quickly enough that it’s easier to go along with it. Still, I don’t know if this is a film that needs to be seen in the theatre. It’s funny, but is it theatrically required?

In any event, Anaconda is a laugh and a half. It’s fun, it’s enjoyable and definitely is worth a look, whether it’s streaming at home or in the theatre. I mean, make sure you stay for the credits, as it’s a film that doesn’t want to stop the joke.

The snake is aways there in the background. It’s the reason for the first film, the sequels and this comedic treatment. I think it’s safe to say that we all like big snakes and we cannot lie.

Anaconda. Directed by Tom Gormican. Cast: Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior, Selton Mello, Ione Skye. In theatres December 25.