Disney had some trouble with the state censors over this cartoon, due to the suggestive hula-dancing lion.
In his book Mickey's Movies: The Theatrical Films of Mickey Mouse, Gijs Grob writes: "Jungle Rhythm is one of the most boring early Mickey Mouse shorts: there's no plot, no dialogue, no song, and the dance routines resemble the worst in contemporary Silly Symphonies. Moreover, it remains unclear what Mickey, who until now we had known is a barnyard and small-town dweller, is doing in the jungle."
In the Disney Film Project, Ryan Kilpatrick observes: "Ub Iwerks' silly dancing numbers are constantly amusing. We get two monkeys in one sequence and two ostriches in another. We also get a lion that pushes its mane down to use as a grass skirt and become a hula dancer. All three are great flowing animation that are fun to watch, even if they're not necessarily story driven."
The Film Daily (December 8, 1929) wrote: "Mickey, Master Musician: The jungle beasts serving Mickey as musical instruments. His playing is such as to set the whole animal population a-dancing. In fact, it is his musical ability alone that stands between him and annihilation. The little fellow is fully aware that 'music soothes the savage breast'. He reveals an amazing mastery of every instrument. Again Mickey shows that he is a performer to be relied upon. Plenty of fun, especially for the young."