Movie Review: Jumanji: The Next Level (PG13 – 123 minutes)

The original Jumanji Robin Williams movie was released in 1995. The sort-of sequel was released two years ago in 2017.  All the movies were based on the book Jumanji which was written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg in 1981.  They all center around a game that blurs the lines between reality and the game, often trapping the players in a dangerous environment and refusing to release them until the objective is released.  The 2017 version updated the game to a video game, transporting players into a dangerous jungle as opposed to terrifying elements from the game coming into the real world.

In this follow-up, the kids from the previous movie are all off to college, but planning to meet up when they return home for break.  Spencer has been having a hard time, missing his girlfriend Martha and not sure he fits in. He arrives home prior to the others and just after agreeing to meet them at a local café has a conversation with his grandfather that increases his doubts.  His grandfather, Eddie, is staying with he and his mother while recovering from hip surgery. While Eddie’s old friend Milo comes over to give him some news, Spencer goes back into the Jumanji game.  When Spencer doesn’t show at the café, the other three head to the house looking for him. Realizing that he jumped back into the game, they head back in to rescue him.  Hijinks ensue.

If you enjoyed the first one, you’ll like this one. Once again directed by Jake Kasdan, the movie is fun and fast paced.  As with the previous edition, the plot is less about what they have to do inside the story and more about what they learn on the way. The cast is once again brilliant at playing various other people who are embodying the avatars inside the game. 

• The kids in the real world are once again played by Madison Iseman (Bethany), Morgan Turner (Martha), Alex Wolff (Spencer), and Ser’Darius Blain (Fridge).  They are given an assist by Colin Hanks as Alex Vreeke. 

• Dannys Devito and Glover play Eddie and Milo, two old friends who had a falling out and get to use the game as a framework for reconciliation.  They were both excellent and it was really fun to see them together briefly.

• Awkwafina joins the in-game cast as Ming Fleetfoot, a skilled thief and lockpick.

• Rory McCann appears as the in-game new villain, Jurgen the Brutal.  He may be stuck in these types of characters for a while.

• Nick Jonas plays Seaplane McDonough, the avatar that Alex chooses.

• Karen Gillan returns as Ruby Roundhouse, Martha’s avatar. She gets to carry Martha’s concern for Spencer through the game.

• Jack Black plays Dr. Sheldon Oberon, who was Bethany last time around and gets to be Fridge for some of this version.

• Kevin Hart plays Franklin Finbar, the zoologist, and gets to be Danny Glover for an extended period of time. 

• Dwayne Johnson plays Dr. Smolder Bravestone and is Danny DeVito for most of the movie.

Honestly, if you liked the previous entry, you'll like this one. The best bits of this movie are watching the four actors playing the game characters shifting between who they are being played by. You can tell the actors enjoyed shifting between players and it really makes it enjoyable to watch. This movie is definitely less about the actual plot are more about the fun to be had watching those it in have fun. 

7 out of 10 – over all, fun, charming, and entertaining.