Anaconda (2025) Movie ft. Paul, Daniela, and Jack

Anaconda (2025) is a comedy disguised as a creature feature where four middle-aged friends head to the Amazon to remake their favourite 90s B‑movie, only to face a real giant snake. Jack Black and Paul Rudd lead the pack with Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton and others, turning what should be a silly gag into a mixed bag of laughs and frustration.

Story and setup

The premise is straightforward and self‑aware: Doug and Griff, lifelong buddies stuck in midlife ruts, grab a loan and drag their friends to Brazil to shoot a cheap remake of the 1997 Anaconda.

• First half plays like a mockumentary: bad acting, zero budget, arguments over lines, and a lot of references to Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube.
• Things flip when their snake handler gets eaten by an actual massive anaconda, forcing the group to fight for survival while their “film” turns deadly serious.

The meta angle is the main hook – they’re making Anaconda while getting attacked by an anaconda – but the script spreads itself thin between jokes, kills and character drama.

Performances

Jack Black’s Doug is the overexcited director type, full of energy and bad decisions. He gets most of the big laughs, especially in the early setup scenes where he’s yelling “action!” in the jungle.
Paul Rudd’s Griff is calmer but equally clueless, playing the straight man who slowly cracks under pressure. Their friendship feels real, which helps during the heavier moments.
Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton round out the core group with solid support: Zahn brings manic energy to the comic relief, while Newton grounds things with quiet competence. Side characters like the snake handler and a shady local add flavour but don’t stick around long.

Direction, effects and action

Tom Gormican directs with a light touch, leaning on quick cuts and improv‑style banter to keep the pace up. The jungle looks convincing enough, but most of the film stays on boats and campsites rather than deep treks.
Snake attacks are the highlight: practical effects mixed with CGI for some tense, bloody set pieces. They’re not scary like the original, but fun in a popcorn way.
Music is upbeat and ironic, with 90s throwbacks to nod at the source material.

What works

• Early friend‑group chaos and movie‑making jokes land well, especially if you know the original.
• Chemistry between Black and Rudd carries the film through slow spots.
• Kill scenes deliver solid gore and tension without going overboard.

What doesn’t

• The meta concept starts strong but fizzles; too much time on personal drama dilutes the snake attacks.
• Later action feels repetitive, and the ending tries too hard to tie everything together.
• Some jokes miss, and the film struggles to balance comedy with actual stakes.

Verdict

Anaconda (2025) is a fun idea that doesn’t fully deliver – good for casual laughs and nostalgia, but it gets tangled in its own premise. Watch if you like Jack Black chaos or 90s B‑movie callbacks; skip if you want tight horror or fresh comedy.