Jumanji: The Next Level Movie Review

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL-

With most sequels, you just want the same thing but a little different. Like it's usually just more of the things that you loved from before. With the FAST & FURIOUS franchise, most of those films just tried to progressively one-up each previous installment by going so extreme that the whole thing has reached irreparable levels of absurdity. Well thank goodness for writer/director Jake Kasdan. With this being his second film in the JUMANJI series, it's plain to see that this guy understands how to do a sequel.

Now JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL isn't like so awesomo greatest sequel ever made extravaganza or something, however it is as close to a perfect companion piece to WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE as it has any right to be. The first thing is that this sequel never tries to out do any of its predecessors by going over the top. Instead, the story just builds on the main characters's strengths and throws in some alternate scenarios and reactions for them to deal with. By all intents and purposes, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is like a video game continuation. There's not much depth in full on character development, but who cares! We just want to have fun and laugh alongside with them. Or at least that's how I felt. The action scenes are just as funny as they are entertaining, especially when you hear THE Rock doing his best Danny DeVito impression to exaggerated heights. And those animal visuals were not half bad during many sequences.

The best thing about JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is the banter between Danny Glover and Danny DeVito before they are replaced to absolute hilarity by Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson. With either duo, I could've watched these guys ham it up and argue for hours. Hell, let's have a spin off show with Glover and DeVito right now. The faces that Hart and Johnson make throughout the film combined with their old guy routine, had me giggling and chuckling for most of the picture. Karen Gillan gets more into the leadership role this time and she doesn't back down an inch. I was actually surprised at how comfortable she was to watch in the lead. Jack Black mixes it up as well, and you know he makes it look as effortless as always. Even Awkwafina kills it when she does her own turn at DeVito mimicking. Overall, I'm impressed by the entire cast. The main villain is just as one note as before, yet it's forgivable in the context of the story. The ending gets a little sappy although its heart is in the right place. JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL delivers what an action/comedy sequel should; big laughs and a fun distraction that lasts for a couple of hours. My only negative thing to say is that multiple viewings may not achieve the same effect as the first view. Stay midway through the end credits for something that JUMANJI fans will appreciate. Now where's that ZATHURA sequel, people?!

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
PG-13 | 2h 3min | Action, Adventure, Comedy | 13 December 2019 (USA)

In Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to rescue one of their own, the players will have to brave parts unknown from arid deserts to snowy mountains, to escape the world's most dangerous game.
Director: Jake Kasdan
Writers: Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart