To prepare for Anaconda (2025) I decided to watch the original 1997 cult classic. While Anaconda (1997) is not a great film, hell it’s not even a good film, it had enough of that “bad” charm to it that made it an incredibly fun watch. So going into its remake/reboot I did not know what to expect from it as it was obviously taking the property in a new direction. While you can see what Anaconda (2025) was trying to do with its material, it was trying way too hard to be funny.
Best friends Griff (Paul Rudd) and Doug (Jack Black) have always dreamed of remaking their all-time favorite movie “Anaconda.” When a midlife crisis pushes them to finally go for it, they assemble a crew and head deep into the Amazonia jungle to start filming. However, life soon imitates art when a gigantic anaconda with a thirst for blood starts hunting them down.
If there is one thing that I will give Anaconda (2025) credit for is that it is not trying to be a remake or a reboot of Anaconda (1997). The film fully understands that the original film is a beloved cult classic and that it should be respected. So it begs the question, why is it being remade? The answer is that Anaconda (2025) is not a remake of the original film, but a satire of Hollywood recycling IP’s in the pursuit of more money, while also taking a jab at the industry’s complete misunderstanding of why these films are beloved in the first place. I must give credit where it is due as this is a genuinely smart framing for a so-called “reboot.”
The film turns its critique inward by following a pair of filmmakers who attempt to “update” Anaconda with heavier themes like generational trauma, grief, and loneliness. They constantly rewrite the script to accommodate every new obstacle that pops up. And despite Anaconda (1997) being their favorite movie, they never once grasped what actually made it special. What made the original so special was how gloriously stupid and unapologetically dumb it was. It is a movie about a giant snake eating people, elevated by wildly over-the-top, campy performances. It wasn’t deep, it was simply pure fun. It’s the kind of movie that you laugh at and with. Unfortunately, while Anaconda (2025) understands this on a conceptual level, it still tries way too hard to be funny, undercutting its own cleverness in the process.
The humor in Anaconda (2025) is extremely hit or miss due to the lack of diversity in its comedy approach. The film operates almost entirely on cheap, Marvel-esque quips, occasionally sprinkled with some mild situational comedy. It never commits to slapstick, cringe humor, or even something a little more surreal. Instead, nearly every line of dialogue is treated like it needs to be a joke. Because of that, none of the humor is ever given a chance to breathe. The film is overstuffed with quips, to the point where jokes blur together. Even when they do land, primarily thanks to comedic talents of Jack Black, Paul Rudd, and especially Steven Zahn, but even then the film feels desperate to get a laugh. And in that desperation, the comedy often backfires.
While Anaconda (2025) showed real potential with its satirical premise, it ultimately squanders it by trying too hard to be funny. On top of that disappointment, there is a shocking lack of anaconda as the comedically large snake only shows up during the final 20 minutes of the film. In the end, Anaconda (2025) is a mixed bag as it is a film that has a clever idea that never fully commits and sadly wastes its own potential.
My Rating: C
Leave a Reply