Lamar Reviews - "Anaconda" (Airdate 1/16/2026)

Lamar Reviews - "Anaconda" (Airdate 1/16/2026)

It’s the beginning of January and this is when
Hollywood releases the dogs. What could be
worse than a remake of the 1997 film of the same
name that starred J-Lo, Ice Cube, John Voight,
and a not-so-great CGI snake. It was bad enough
to become a cult classic. So, making an exact
remake would have been out of the question.
But making an action comedy would work. Of
course, that would require casting some really
funny actors and a beautiful woman that could be
tough. Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn, and
Thandiwe Newton, were great choices for sure.
But you still need a good writer/director to pull it all
together or you’re still going to wind up with a silly
mess. They chose Tom Gormican who did The
Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent that starred
Nicolas and Pedro Pascal. So, they put together a
team that looks good on paper…. But, will it still
suck on the screen? NO! It did not.
It has already made over $100 million in the first
two weeks. So, no it does not suck, but on Rotten

Tomatoes, the Critic Rating was 50% but the
Audience Rating was 76%. All you other movie
critics, please remove that stick, I know it must
make it uncomfortable and hard to sit!! My son
Clay and I went to the movie fully expecting it to
be bad, but maybe so much worse than the
original it might be funny. Oh, it was funny, but not
bad funny, it is genius funny, meaning they got it
exactly right!
Jack Black plays Doug, Paul Rudd plays Griff,
Steve Zahn plays Kenny, and Thandiwe Newton
plays Claire. They are childhood friends from
Boston who dreamed of making movies, but when
they grew up it didn’t happen. Doug makes a living
as a wedding videographer, Griff is a third tier
actor that just got fired, Clair is a lawyer that hates
her job, and Kenny who has had some problems
is finally sober, “Buffalo sober”, he now only drinks
beer, wine, and some of the lighter liquors like gin
and vodka. They get together and decide to film a
remake of the terrible 1997 film, Anaconda.
Working on a $43,000 budget they head to the

amazon, where they wind up being pursued by a
giant Anaconda.

The movie is a perfect hilarious 1 hour and 39
minutes, Rated PG-13 for violence/action, strong
language, some drug use and suggestive
references.
Even though people are constantly being
devoured by the gigantic snake, it is not really
scarry, but it is consistently funny. I laughed during
the entire movie, and mostly out loud. And so did
the rest of the crowd.
Jack Black for some reason that I can’t explain
has never been on my list of actors I love. I admit
it’s me not him. He is tremendous in every movie,
comedy or drama. And just like he does in every
role, works his butt off, and is hilarious in this
movie. We are now close; I’m putting him on my
list. My son and I loved this movie!
My Score: Giving it a strong 4 Buds, but in my
heart, it is a solid 5.

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