Anaconda Review: Paul Rudd, Jack Black Add Fun to Light Reboot

Sony’s reboot of Anaconda leans into nostalgia and self-aware humour, reimagining the cult 1997 creature feature as a buddy adventure rather than a straight-up survival horror. The result is a light, occasionally funny watch that never fully coils into high tension—but stays afloat on charm.

Directed and co-written by Tom Gormican, the film reframes the familiar “humans versus predator” premise through midlife anxieties. Paul Rudd and Jack Black play Griff and Doug—two men stuck in personal and professional ruts—who embark on a jungle expedition to chase a half-forgotten childhood dream. What starts as a knowingly absurd road trip soon slides into danger when the titular snake enters the picture.

The movie’s biggest strength is its central pairing. Rudd’s easygoing warmth complements Black’s chaotic, self-deprecating energy, creating an unforced camaraderie that carries many scenes. Their banter, bickering and bonding are often more entertaining than the action itself, and the film smartly gives them room to riff. It’s clear the makers know audiences are here as much for this duo as for the monster.

Tonally, though, Anaconda can’t quite decide what it wants to be. At times it parodies Hollywood’s reboot obsession with a wink; at others, it aims for earnest jungle survival. These shifts keep the tension from sustaining. The snake looks technically impressive, but it rarely feels like a looming, pulse-raising threat. Supporting characters drift in and out, and the stakes remain oddly low for a film about a man-eating predator.

Still, the appeal of creature features endures: uncomplicated thrills, humans testing fate against nature, and pulpy spectacle. Gormican’s film understands that appeal and doesn’t overthink it. While it stops short of sharp satire or inventive scares, it delivers enough humour, nostalgia and star power to make for a pleasant holiday watch.

Anaconda doesn’t redefine the genre—but it doesn’t embarrass it either. For fans of Rudd and Black, this snake still has some life left.

Anaconda released in theatres on December 25.