Alright, fellow tape travelers, let's rewind to 1985. Remember that giddy feeling when you saw Romancing the Stone unexpectedly became a smash hit? The chemistry between Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner was lightning in a bottle, and Danny DeVito’s sleazy charm was the perfect chaser. Hollywood, never one to leave money on the table, fast-tracked a sequel. Less than two years later, The Jewel of the Nile landed on video store shelves, promising more exotic adventure. Did it recapture the magic? Well, buckle up your imaginary seatbelt on Jack Colton’s perpetually abused boat (or plane, or camel...), because it's a ride, alright.
### From Rainforests to Deserts: A Change of Scenery
The film kicks off finding our heroes, Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) and Jack Colton (Michael Douglas), living the supposed dream on their yacht, the Angelina. But paradise is starting to feel… predictable. Joan’s suffering from writer's block, and Jack’s getting restless. Opportunity knocks, or rather, arrives via emissary, when Joan is invited by the charming Sheik Omar (Spiros Focás) to his North African nation to write his biography. Jack’s suspicious, Joan’s intrigued, and before you can say "sequel setup," she’s whisked away, Jack’s boat explodes (again!), and he finds himself reluctantly teamed up with their old frenemy Ralph (Danny DeVito) to rescue her. Oh, and there's the matter of the "Jewel," a mysterious figure Omar desperately needs.
Right away, you notice the shift. Director Lewis Teague, stepping in for Robert Zemeckis (who was busy making some film called Back to the Future), brings a slightly different energy. Teague, who gave us the claustrophobic terror of Cujo (1983) and the Stephen King anthology Cat's Eye (1985), leans into a broader, almost cartoonish action vibe here. The Colombian jungles are swapped for the sun-baked landscapes of Morocco (standing in for the fictional Kadir), and the tone feels a bit bigger, louder, maybe a touch less grounded than its predecessor.
### Action That Crackles (and Sometimes Just Burns)
Let’s talk about the action, because this is where Jewel of the Nile delivers that distinct 80s punch. Forget polished CGI – this was the era of sweating stunt performers and actual explosions. Remember that insane sequence involving an F-16 fighter jet? Jack and Joan steal it, barely manage to fly it while bickering hilariously, and eventually crash-land it. Sure, the rear-projection might look a bit fuzzy on your old CRT now, and film buffs know the jet used was actually a modified Fouga Magister trainer painted to look like an F-16, but at the time, seeing that thing roar across the desert felt genuinely thrilling. It was big, loud, and dangerously tangible.
The practical effects are everywhere. Gunfights have those satisfyingly squib-heavy impacts, vehicles crash with real metallic crunch, and fireballs look… well, like actual fireballs because they were. There's a chaotic energy to the train sequence and the final assault on Omar's fortress that feels raw. These weren't scenes meticulously planned on a computer; they felt like organized mayhem captured on film. It’s a different kind of spectacle – less smooth, perhaps, but carrying the weight of real physical effort and risk. It’s interesting to note that the production itself was reportedly quite challenging, filmed under tough conditions in Morocco, which perhaps bled some of that gritty reality onto the screen.
### The Trio Tries Again
The chemistry between Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner is still present, though maybe the effortless spark of the first film is tempered by their characters' established relationship (and maybe some off-screen friction). Turner famously tried to back out of the film initially, leading to a hefty lawsuit from Fox before she agreed to star – a fascinating bit of retro trivia that perhaps hints at why Joan feels slightly sidelined at times compared to her proactive role in Romancing. Douglas throws himself into Jack’s rogueish charm and action beats with gusto.
And then there's Danny DeVito as Ralph. He gets arguably more screen time here, partnering with a local holy man, the "Jewel" himself (played with gentle humour by Avner Eisenberg), and navigating his own series of disasters. DeVito remains a comedic highlight, bringing that essential greedy, frantic energy that balances the romance and adventure.
### Was the Nile Worth Navigating?
Written by Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner (taking over from the late Diane Thomas, who penned the original), the script feels a bit more formulaic than Romancing the Stone. The plot mechanics are occasionally clunky, and the villain, Omar, is a fairly standard megalomaniac trope. Yet, it barrels along with enough pace and spectacle that you often don't mind. The score, featuring that undeniably catchy Billy Ocean theme song, "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going," perfectly encapsulates the film's upbeat, slightly cheesy, but ultimately fun 80s spirit.
Critically, Jewel wasn't as warmly received as Romancing, often seen as a slightly lesser echo. Audiences, however, still turned up, making it a solid box office success (grossing around $76 million domestically on a reported $25 million budget – a healthy return back then). It proved the star power of Douglas and Turner was potent, even if the vehicle wasn't quite as finely tuned. I distinctly remember grabbing this off the New Releases shelf at the video store, eager for more Jack and Joan, and while it didn't hit quite the same adventurous high, it was still a blast for a Friday night watch.
VHS Heaven Rating: 7/10
Justification: It loses points for not quite matching the original's magical blend of romance, comedy, and adventure, and for a slightly more generic plot. However, it scores high for its returning charismatic leads, genuinely fun practical action set pieces that scream '80s', Danny DeVito's expanded role, and delivering a perfectly enjoyable dose of escapism. It’s a sequel that knows its job is to entertain, and it mostly succeeds with energetic flair.
Final Thought: The Jewel of the Nile might be the slightly less charming younger sibling, but it still packs that glorious, tangible, pre-digital action punch that made 80s adventure movies feel so alive – imperfections and all. Definitely worth dusting off the VCR for, if only to see that fighter jet sequence again.