“I can’t say this enough: We’re in a video game.” —Martha
Today’s quick review: Jumanji: The Next Level. Martha (Morgan Turner), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), and Bethany (Madison Iseman) are drawn back into the game of Jumanji when their friend Spencer (Alex Wolff) gets trapped inside it. This time around, the teens are given different avatars (Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black) and are joined by two new players: Spencer’s grandfather Eddie (Danny DeVito) and his friend Milo (Danny Glover).
Jumanji: The Next Level is a comedy action adventure that picks up several years after Welcome to the Jungle. The friends from the previous film are reunited after their first semester in college, only to be dragged backed into the video game world of Jumanji. The Next Level keeps the same light tone and sense of adventure as Welcome to the Jungle, but it shakes up the formula by shuffling the group’s avataers and adding two new characters to the mix.
Jumanji: The Next Level excels at the same style of humor as the previous film. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black continue to be a robust comedy team, and their new character assignments give them the chance to show off more of their surprising range. Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, and Awkwafina are welcome additions to the cast. Like before, seeing the characters banter, bicker, and try to adapt is the greatest draw of the movie.
The plot of The Next Level is bare-bones, a video game quest set in a pastiche of the adventure genre. There are a few subplots that deal with the characters’ interpersonal relationships, but in general, the movie is a light romp that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The video game setting serves as the basis for some of the movie’s more unique humor, and it’s also the basis for a fair number of CGI-fueled action scenes.
The Next Level hits many of the same beats as Welcome to the Jungle, but its premise isn’t as fresh and its writing isn’t as tight. The tidy character arcs and carefully structured story of the previous film gave it an unexpected amount of depth. The sequel has more that it needs to get done, so it ends up sacrificing heart for the sake of comedy. This doesn’t detract from the fun, but it does make for a looser, less grounded watch.
Jumanji: The Next Level is a strong pick for anyone in the mood for a popcorn adventure. It doesn’t quite live up to its predecessor in terms of story and character, but a great cast, consistently funny humor, and a few clever twists on the previous film’s formula make it a thoroughly entertaining watch for the right viewer. Those hoping for a more careful comedy or a more serious adventure should steer clear.
For a movie with almost identical appeal, try Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. For an action adventure movie starring Dwayne Johnson that has a similar sense of humor, try Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for a talented cast clearly having a good time.