Jumanji: The Next Level is the 3rd film for the franchise
Jumanji: The Next Level is the 3rd film for the franchise but when the second installment “Welcome To The Jungle” came out in 2017, there was a complete uproar about it and everyone was asking why they were remaking Jumanji, but actually it came out to be an impressive “sequel-reboot” to the original starring Robin Williams who was paid homage in one of the scenes. I did not get a chance to watch it in theaters but did catch it on digital to see what the fuss was all about. I was caught off guard by how good it was.
Synopsis
When Spencer goes back into the fantastical world of Jumanji, pals Martha, Fridge and Bethany re-enter the game to bring him home. Now the game is broken. Everything the friends know about Jumanji is about to change, as they soon discover there’s more obstacles and more danger to overcome.
Despite a slow start, “The Next Level” uses a similar formula as its predecessor with a handful of changes and additional cast, such as Danny DeVito, Donald Glover, and Awkwafina. Even though we don’t get much of Glover, DeVito shines immediately and Awakfina’s appearance is actually a nice surprise as she steals the spotlight in her scenes.
I didn’t care for the young actors in the last installment or this one, so I was eager for the all star cast to arrive. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson absolutely kills it in this movie with his comedic skills and embodying Danny DeVito was one of the best things I have seen on the big screen. It is no surprise how great his chemistry with Kevin Hart is, who does a great job embodying Danny Glover’s character. Karen Gillian and Jack Black don’t get as much screen time as before but have some great scenes together and there is an amazing scene of Gillian as Ruby Roundhouse kicking ass.
The visual effects and CGI were really great and nicely done which made it a fun and exciting action adventure to enjoy. The two things I was really bummed about was the lack of a solid villain and no real explanation or insight into the lore of Jumanji since I am still wanting to know how it became a video game, unless they are completely ignoring the board game. Regardless, “The Next Level” is a fun holiday flick the whole family can enjoy.
Verdict
I give Jumanji: The Next Level an 8/10 and look forward to an obvious next installment that was teased with an end credit scene that you need to stay for.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.