Today’s quick review: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. While spending the afternoon in detention, four teenagers—Spencer (Dwayne Johnson), Fridge (Kevin Hart), Martha (Karen Gillan), and Bethany (Jack Black)—start up Jumanji, a cursed video game, only to find themselves trapped in the game world. To escape the game, they must brave a jungle full of dangerous animals and ruthless treasure hunters to return a stolen gemstone to its rightful place.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a comedy action adventure and a loose sequel to the original Jumanji. Welcome to the Jungle opts for a lighter tone than its predecessor, with less personal drama, more cartoonish peril, and more overt humor. The movie features a great cast and a sensible script that has just the right amount of humor, character development, and action. The result is an unusually well-rounded popcorn flick that makes for a fun watch.
The glue that holds the movie together is a set of stellar performances from its cast. Jumanji transports four teens into the bodies of the characters they chose for the game, as played by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black. All four actors are cast against type and clearly having fun with their roles. Subtle touches help sell the cast as teenagers in adult bodies, and their performances the give movie a solid comedy core.
Their performances are backed by a script that makes good on the film’s premise. The plot itself is a linear, video game-style quest, but the script does a good job of entertaining along the way. The gags are consistently funny, usually playing on the characters’ new bodies, video game conventions, or the perils of the jungle. The movie also manages its characters well, giving everyone a chance to grow without delving into heavy drama.
Give Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle a watch when you’re in the mood for pure, unadulterated popcorn. There’s not much in the way of depth or nuance, but its humor holds broad appeal, its characters are handled well, and it delivers just enough action to keep the film exciting. Skip it if you’re looking for hardcore action, truly outstanding comedy, or a direct sequel to Jumanji.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for good humor, a decent amount of action, and surprisingly entertaining performances.