YOU don’t say no to Dwayne Johnson. That’s what Emily Blunt learnt when the former WWE legend set out to recruit her for his latest blockbuster.

Blunt had just finished back-to-back work on Mary Poppins Returns and A Quiet Place 2 when Johnson began lobbying her to be his costar in Jungle Cruise. When Blunt declined - opting to take a well earned break instead - Johnson recorded her a video message and had the film’s director, Jaume Collet-Serra, deliver its script in person for her to read. Touched, Blunt took a look. The rest is history.

Watching Jungle Cruise, you can see why Blunt changed her mind. This is high octane, breathlessly entertaining stuff. Fun to the max. The film of the summer? Don’t bet against it.

In the vogue of Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion before it, Jungle Cruise takes its inspiration from a river boat attraction at the Disneyland theme parks in California, Florida, Tokyo and Hong Kong. It’s a loose connection but screenwriters Michael Green, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa take it far. You can already feel Disney execs rubbing their hands for the sequels to come.

Set during the early 20th century, the film casts Blunt as Dr Lily Houghton, a British scientist who, along with her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall), recruit Johnson’s riverboat captain Frank to help find the Tree of Life. Legend tells that said tree possesses healing powers so potent that they could change the future of modern medicine. Along the way, the trio must fend off wild animals, a hot and deadly environment, and a competing German expedition that is determined to find the tree first.

A corking score from James Newton Howard has a lark with metallic undertones, bouncing well off superb visuals by cinematographer Flavio Labiano. There are roles for Edgar Ramirez, Jesse Plemons and Paul Giamatti, with all three playing second fiddle to the vibrant, easy chemistry of Blunt and Johnson.

It is true that, at over two hours, Jungle Cruise feels a tad long. It would also be fair to critique the film’s occasionally slim character development and familiar trajectory. With Covid-19 infections still high, Disney have opted to release Jungle Cruise online as well as in cinemas. Please do try and support the latter first.