A One Mann’s Movies review of “Jumanji: The Next Level” (2019).
Bob the Movie Man’s Rating:
Certification:
US: PG-13. UK: 12A.
One of the pleasant movie surprises of Christmas 2017 for me was “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle“. I expected it to be a tired retread of the original classic, but instead, it turned into a highly entertaining action-comedy. Reading my review again, I was rather po-faced about it and scored it with a rather measly 3.5/5. But this rather belies my secret love of the movie: it is a film that I can invariably watch and enjoy again and again.
This was also a film that raked in a HUGE return at the box office, getting close to the billion-dollar number on its $90 million budget. During the spring of 2018, this was an almost permanent resident at the multiplexes (until “The Greatest Showman” and “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” took over the residence for the rest of the year!). A sequel was inevitable
New kid on the block. Awkfawina as Ming Fleetfoot joins the pixellated team. (Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment).
Mending the game.
We rejoin the cast some time after the events of the first film, and the geeky teenage lovers – Spencer and Bethany – are trying, unsuccessfully, to carry on their long-distance relationship while at separate colleges. Spencer is struggling mentally; lacking in confidence and momentum and desperate to feel like ‘Smoulder’ Bravestone again.
On returning to his home town for the holidays, Spencer fixes the shattered game. But the console is unpredictable and when the game sucks people into Jumanji this time it’s not just Spencer and two of his friends that go in, but Spencer’s Grandpa Eddie (Danny DeVito) and his old friend Milo (Danny Glover).
When they get there though, things have changed and the mission is a different one. A “next level” indeed!
Old timers in need of one last hoorah. Danny Glover and Danny DeVito. (Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment).
They had to do something different.
This is very much ‘much of the same’ from the first film. Yes, there’s a different backdrop with desert and mountain ‘levels’ to play through. But the same fun, with exploding avatars and dangerous cake, is to be had again. The script team had to do something different here, and they did that by mixing up the avatars (including a surprising equine player) and throwing in the ‘pensioners’ to the mix. There is new fun to be mined here from the now nimble-again Eddie and the slow-talking and laconic Milo never quite getting to the point in time.
Teaching an old guy new tricks. Spencer (Alex Wolff) and his Grandpa (Danny DeVito) hit the console. (Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment).
The same cast reassembled.
I always wonder how hard cast members from a film need to play it to get lured back for a sequel like this. Do the agents play hard-ball on the financial negotiations, knowing the angst the scriptwriters will have about writing an original character out? Or were they all contracted on a multi-film deal? Either way, and probably remembering the 20x payback on the original film, the stars were all persuaded back for another ride. The four avatar leads (Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black and Kevin Hart) all return, together with the young teens (Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain and Madison Iseman). Nick Jonas and his older real-life player Colin Hanks are back. Even Nigel “Welcome to Jumanji” Billingsley (Rhys Darby) returns, this time swapping his jeep for a plane.
The gang are back. Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson and the still unfeasibly sexy – in a purely ironic way, you understand! – Karen Gillan. (Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment).
The newcomers to the cast are also welcome. Glover and DeVito are at their cranky best, and introduce a genuinely touching moment into the film. And a new avatar – Ming Fleetfoot – is fabulous in the form of Awkwafina, so brilliant in this year’s “The Farewell“.
Don’t mess with a winning formula.
There’s not much more to say on this. If you liked the original, you’ll enjoy this one too. Many of the same jokes are trotted out again. The villain (here Rory McCann) is as forgettable as in the first film. It’s not breaking any records in terms of originality, but the producers won’t mind about that as long as it drags the crowds in again. At the time of writing it has made $320K on its $125K budget, so that seems to be working.
Jumping the…. killer ostrich. (Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment).
Jake Kasdan is again at the helm. But I really hope enough is enough, and they leave it at this. The mid-credits scene might suggest though that greed is going to dictate a Jumanji 4 (or 5 in some people’s books). The returns, I fear, from the franchise will be ever-diminishing from this point forwards.
I was mean in my original review of the first film. But my rating of this one reflects its lack of originality.
Jumanji: The Next Level Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6QaLsw8EWY.
Maybe it’s just me, but the Robin Williams version of Jumanji was enjoyable enough. The last two installments looked like cynical cash grabs.
Thanks Lee. I don’t think you can really compare this to the original. They are two very different animals. But I really enjoyed both sets (in different ways).
Enjoyed it and will no doubt watch happily again. It’s good fun but just 3 stars from me.
Thanks again for the comment Trev. Awkwafina is up for BAFTA rising star award.