Jumanji: The Next Level

If you have kids, who liked the first film, they’ll enjoy Jumanji: The Next Level. It continues the fun of the first in both action and comedy, thrills, and laughs. You’re going to be a hero to the young ones for the next twenty-four hours, so enjoy it.

If we have to go through the comparison game, the original is better than the sequel. What was fun about the original is how the gang has to figure out the rules of the game and how working together made them lifelong friends. Now, we already know the rules, and they are already friends…who are having a break from one another up until this point. So the ultimate stakes in their relationship are lessened.

Returning are the cool video game deaths, of which each character can only die three times. A desert dune buggy chase, puzzles to solve, and the Rock just being too powerful over Jurgen’s henchmen.

“…continues the fun of the first in both action and comedy, thrills, and laughs. You’re going to be a hero to the young ones…”

We also get a few new characters to broaden the cast in Ming (Awkwafina), who’s character has thievery skills, but not ninja skills, in case you went there. It also broadens the world, like in video games, where you learn to master gameplay in the first level and then progressively challenged from then on. Speaking of gameplay, they spend very little time rehashing all the rules and events from the first film. They bring up what’s essential and dives deep into the story. Thank you.

Also different from the original film are the real-world characters of Spencer, Fridge, Martha, and Bethany. In the last film, these characters, more or less bookended to maximize “real” higher-paid stars’ story and screen time. Here writers Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg allow the younger actors an opportunity to broaden their characters as they appear before, during, and after the video-game antics.

What works best is how Kasdan literally mixes up the players. Having the older Eddie and Milo be Bravestone and Finbar respectively was brilliant, because now the lead character of Bravestone is relegated to a supporting role. You just have to deal with Dwayne Johnson’s over-the-top New York accent. I love how the lead roles of this film now shift to Karen Gillan and Jack Black as they take the lead in the adventure.

In the end, Jumanji: The Next Level, is a fast-paced thrill ride, and fans of the original will not be dissatisfied. The writing is just as smart as the first, and the main cast revives its original magic. My only complaint is the film does a good job continuing the franchise, but really doesn’t elevate it in any way. While I walked away satisfied, I didn’t walk away feeling like I need to see another one. But then again, that’s the box office’s decision.