Jungle 2 Jungle
Uptight New York City executive, Michael Cromwell, pursues his soon-to-be ex-wife to South America and returns home with the son he never knew he had—a boy raised in a tribal village in Brazil. Armed with only his blowgun, the 13-year-old Mimi-Siku discovers that the world outside his jungle home is indeed a strange place.
Working with a mid-range budget of $32.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $59.9M in global revenue (+87% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Jungle 2 Jungle (1997) showcases deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of John Pasquin's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Michael Cromwell navigates his high-pressure Manhattan life as a commodities broker, completely absorbed in deals and money, with no room for family or emotional connection. His sterile apartment and frantic phone calls establish him as a man who has everything except what matters.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Michael must travel to the Amazon jungle to get divorce papers signed by Patricia. This forces him out of his comfortable Manhattan existence and into an unknown world, disrupting his plans for a quick remarriage and continued focus on his career.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Michael discovers he has a 13-year-old son, Mimi-Siku, raised in the tribe by Patricia. This revelation shatters his world and he cannot simply get papers signed and leave—he must now reckon with fatherhood and accept Mimi-Siku's request to visit New York, fundamentally changing his journey., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: Michael seems to be managing both worlds—his son is adapting, his engagement is intact, his big business deal is progressing. A bonding moment between father and son suggests everything might work out. But the stakes raise as Michael's lies and double life become harder to maintain., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Everything falls apart: Michael's engagement collapses, his business deal is threatened, and worst of all, Mimi-Siku feels betrayed and rejected, preparing to return to the jungle. Michael faces losing his son just as he's discovered what fatherhood means. The relationship "dies" as Mimi-Siku believes Michael values his career over him., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Michael has a breakthrough: he synthesizes his old skills (determination, resourcefulness) with his new values (family, authenticity) learned from Mimi-Siku. He chooses his son over his career and sets out to prove it through action, ready to sacrifice his business deal to save their relationship and rescue Mimi-Siku from danger., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Jungle 2 Jungle's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Jungle 2 Jungle against these established plot points, we can identify how John Pasquin utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Jungle 2 Jungle within the comedy genre.
John Pasquin's Structural Approach
Among the 3 John Pasquin films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Jungle 2 Jungle takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Pasquin filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more John Pasquin analyses, see Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Joe Somebody.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Michael Cromwell navigates his high-pressure Manhattan life as a commodities broker, completely absorbed in deals and money, with no room for family or emotional connection. His sterile apartment and frantic phone calls establish him as a man who has everything except what matters.
Theme
Michael's fiancée Charlotte or colleague mentions something about "what's really important in life" or "you can't put a price on family," foreshadowing Michael's journey from materialism to discovering true values through fatherhood.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Michael's Manhattan world: his engagement to Charlotte, his high-stakes trading job, his superficial relationships. We learn he needs divorce papers signed by his ex-wife Patricia, who disappeared to the Amazon years ago. The setup contrasts urban corporate culture with hints of the jungle world to come.
Disruption
Michael must travel to the Amazon jungle to get divorce papers signed by Patricia. This forces him out of his comfortable Manhattan existence and into an unknown world, disrupting his plans for a quick remarriage and continued focus on his career.
Resistance
Michael reluctantly prepares for and travels to the Amazon. He resists leaving his comfort zone, makes arrangements for his absence, and journeys into the jungle with mounting apprehension. His fish-out-of-water discomfort in the rainforest highlights how unprepared he is for what's coming.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Michael discovers he has a 13-year-old son, Mimi-Siku, raised in the tribe by Patricia. This revelation shatters his world and he cannot simply get papers signed and leave—he must now reckon with fatherhood and accept Mimi-Siku's request to visit New York, fundamentally changing his journey.
Mirror World
Mimi-Siku arrives in New York, representing everything Michael is not: natural, innocent, authentic, connected to what matters. Their relationship becomes the B-story that will teach Michael about real values beyond money and status. The boy is the thematic mirror showing Michael who he should be.
Premise
Fish-out-of-water comedy as Mimi-Siku explores Manhattan: climbing buildings, befriending the coffee shop girl, misunderstanding urban customs, hunting pigeons. Michael struggles to balance his sophisticated city life with his wild jungle son. Comic culture clashes deliver the "fun and games" premise the audience came for.
Midpoint
False victory: Michael seems to be managing both worlds—his son is adapting, his engagement is intact, his big business deal is progressing. A bonding moment between father and son suggests everything might work out. But the stakes raise as Michael's lies and double life become harder to maintain.
Opposition
Complications intensify: Mimi-Siku's jungle behavior creates mounting problems, Michael's fiancée grows suspicious, his business deal becomes jeopardized, and the cultural gap between father and son widens. Michael's attempt to have both his old life and this new relationship begins to crumble. His materialistic values clash with his son's authentic ones.
Collapse
Everything falls apart: Michael's engagement collapses, his business deal is threatened, and worst of all, Mimi-Siku feels betrayed and rejected, preparing to return to the jungle. Michael faces losing his son just as he's discovered what fatherhood means. The relationship "dies" as Mimi-Siku believes Michael values his career over him.
Crisis
Michael hits rock bottom emotionally, realizing he's repeated the same mistake—choosing career over family—that destroyed his first marriage. He processes the pain of potentially losing his son and confronts what truly matters. Dark night of the soul as he questions his entire value system.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Michael has a breakthrough: he synthesizes his old skills (determination, resourcefulness) with his new values (family, authenticity) learned from Mimi-Siku. He chooses his son over his career and sets out to prove it through action, ready to sacrifice his business deal to save their relationship and rescue Mimi-Siku from danger.
Synthesis
Michael takes decisive action to rescue Mimi-Siku from a dangerous situation involving the tribal fire ritual or conflict with villains. He proves through his choices that he's changed, putting his son first. Father and son reconcile, Michael embraces his new priorities, and he resolves the external conflicts by staying true to his transformed values.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening but shows transformation: Michael, once obsessed with trading and money, now prioritizes his relationship with Mimi-Siku. Perhaps he's in his apartment but it's warmer, more lived-in, with evidence of his son's presence. He's learned that family and authentic connection matter more than deals and status.