Jungle Cruise continues one of the 2010s’ best movie casting trends. The Disney film, which is based on the theme park ride of the same name, had a lot going on — from ancient curses to desperate villains to riverside adventures. And while Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are household names in Hollywood, Jungle Cruise’s greatest casting choice came in the form of Jesse Plemons as a conniving, wily villain.
In the film, Plemons plays Prince Joachim Franz Humbert, a German aristocrat who wants to find the Tree of Life and its magical healing petals to aid his country in winning World War I. Prince Joachim is calm, but murderous. Despite his penchant for violence and the growing desperation to beat the other characters, he’s disconcerting in an oddly funny way, as well as off-kilter and somewhat ridiculous. The thing about Plemons is that he always manages to be memorable no matter what kind of film he’s in. Over the last decade, he has made a career out of playing eccentric, and often creepy, supporting character roles.
To be sure, Jungle Cruise’s Prince Joachim isn’t the first and audiences have come to expect Plemons’ bizarre portrayals. Whenever he shows up, it’s bound to be fun, and maybe a little bit eerie, no matter the movie or the context of its plot. In the Black Mirror episode, “USS Callister,” the actor played Daly, a creepy, odd programmer whose actions are deeply uncomfortable (though he is initially charismatic). In Game Night, Plemons is the weird, seemingly frightening neighbor who constantly pets his cat and delivers disconcerting dialogue despite being relatively harmless. In I’m Thinking of Ending Things, his character is lonely and sad, but there’s something rather disquieting about the way Plemons tackles the role.
The list goes on and on in the actor’s ever-growing repertoire of roles. In short, he always leaves a rather visceral impression on viewers. His roles aren’t usually major, but whether he appears onscreen for five minutes or an hour, Plemons always gives an incredible performance. In Jungle Cruise, he chews scenery in the best way, making his mark despite the limited scope of his character’s villainous plans. What’s so devastatingly good about the actor is that he adds flair when need be, often combining an oddball nature with a chilling sense of dread. Prince Joachim is equally a fun character while also ensuring his nefarious scheming doesn’t go unnoticed.
While Jungle Cruise isn’t the first time Jesse Plemons has taken on a role similar to Joachim, it does serve as a reminder as to how good the actor is at playing these kinds of characters. It’s something he excels at and has become quite famous for. Though he’s not as splashy a name when it comes to popularity as some others (like Dwayne Johnson), viewers can always expect the best when Plemons appears onscreen. It's likely that he won't quit playing these kinds of roles in the future and it's honestly a great way to continue carving a space out for himself in film.