August 13, 2021 – This is an old-fashioned adventure fantasy, similar in nature to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, which, like this movie, happen to be based on Disney theme park rides.

The formula here is very similar to other similar jungle adventure fantasy or sci-fi films. It is set in the past, a time when there were a lot more mysteries in the world about far-off places like the jungles of South America, a time when there seemed to be the possibility for magical adventures in those places.

In the early 20th century, an adventurous English woman, Lily Houghton (played by Emily Blunt of “A Quiet Place”) sets out on a quest to find a magical tree in the jungle with healing properties called the “Tears of the Moon.” There is a flashback scene, showing conquistadors seeking the Tears of the Moon in 1556, led by Don Aguirre (the original “Wrath of God” guy).

After stealing a ancient arrowhead, key to unlocking the location of the Tears of the Moon, Houghton and her gay brother, MacGregor Houghton (Jack Whitehall of “Mother's Day”) arrive in Brazil looking for passage down the Amazon. They hire skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) and his boat for the journey.

Ignoring Wolff's warnings about the foolhardiness of her quest, Lily and her brother continue down the river, along with Wolff and his pet jaguar, Proxima. There are adventures galore along the way as they endure rapids, waterfalls, and a German submarine whose captain, Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons of “The Irishman”) is also seeking the Tears of the Moon.

The adventurers are also pursued by Don Aguirre and the other conquistadors who have been cursed to live, zombie-like near the river where they massacred a native tribe. Joachim revives the conquistadors and promises to lift their curse if they help him get to the Tears of the Moon.

As the journey continues, the Houghtons discover the truth about Wolff, who is not who he seems to be. Things come to a climax when everybody converges on the hidden location of the Tears of the Moon. Many buckles are swashed in the big fight that ensues. Although there are literally thousands of these magical healing Tears of the Moon, somehow only one or two are actually collected by all the many people who are there.

The story seemed unclear to me as to what the rules are for lifting the curse imposed on the conquistadors, and why the conquistadors didn't just use the Tears of the Moon themselves to lift their own curses when it appears that is all they had to do. Did the Tears of the Moon confer immortality on those who consumed them? This all seems unclear to me.

The story is silly and unbelievable, but very lighthearted. It is all in good fun. It is an example of the venerable genre of the jungle adventure film. It is not well written, but it is fun, in an easygoing, campy kind of way. This film rates a C+.

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