Jumanji: The Next Level Image

Jumanji: The Next Level

By Alan Ng | December 20, 2019

The gang is back…both gangs, that is, in Jake Kasdan’s Jumanji: The Next Level. The film is what it is—an action-adventure movie for young, tween kids and spoiler, it recaptures the fun of the first…for the most part.

Our story opens with lead young adult Spencer (Alex Wolff) alone at school in New York, feeling like a small fish in a big pond. He’s lost contact with his original friends: Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), Bethany (Madison Iseman), and now ex-girlfriend Martha (Morgan Turner). Spencer is heading home for the holidays to his mother (Marin Hinkle) and grandfather Eddie (Danny DeVito), who is up there in age and needs help getting around. Meanwhile, Eddie’s old business partner Milo (Danny Glover) makes a surprise visit to an icy reception from Eddie.

“Spencer is feeling depressed because he lost the confidence he gained from embodying Dr. Smolder Bravestone…”

Spencer is feeling depressed because he lost the confidence he gained from embodying Dr. Smolder Bravestone in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, even though it almost killed him and his friends. Well, Spencer pulls out the old game console and goes back to find what he lost in the real world.

Concerned that Spencer is now missing, his friends discover his foolish plan, and as friends do, they go back in the game to rescue him. But things don’t go according to plan. Now back in the game, Martha returns as Ruby Roundstone (Karen Gillan), but Fridge has been switched to Professor Shelly Oberon (Jack Black). In the ultimate twist (as revealed in the trailers), Spencer’s grandfather Eddie takes the lead as Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), and Milo is now Franklin “Mouse” Finbar (Keven Hart). Where’s Bethany? She’s left behind in the real world.

Now, there is a mission in this next level in the world of Jumanji. Rhys Darby returns as Nigel Billingsley to serve as the guy who presents the initial clues. To win, the gang must find a gem possessed by Jurgen the Brutal (Rory McCann) and hold it to the sunlight. Pretty thin plot, but this is a video after all. But really they’re there to rescue Spencer.

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

Directed: Jake Kasdan

Written: Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Alex Wolf, Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, Nick Jonas, Colin Hanks, Morgan Turner, Awkwafina, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Rhys Darby, etc.

Movie score: 8/10

Jumanji: The Next Level Image

"…allow the younger actors an opportunity to broaden their characters..."

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