Jumanji – The Next Level Review – Unwanted sequel or just as good as the first?
Warning: this review of Jumanji – The Next Level may contain spoilers. There’s not much to spoil anyway but if you’d like to see this movie knowing nothing I may discuss certain spoiler-y plot points. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the review. Thus ends my obligation to warn you ?
The main plot of Jumani – The Next Level
Jumanji – The Next Level follows on from the previous rebooted Jumanji film.
Spencer finds himself unfulfilled in life following his adventures in the first Jumanji and as a consequence, fixes the machine and returns alone to the game.
His friends, Martha, Bethany, and Fridge get worried about him not replying to their texts or calls and look for him. Discovering he’s let himself into the game again, they decide to go in after him and bring him back. But Spencer’s grandfather, Eddie, and his ex-best friend Milo get sucked into the game by accident too. And so their adventure to rescue Spencer and get themselves out of the game begins…
Review of Jumanji – The Next Level
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this movie. Just like with the first installment it’s the fun sense of humor and randomness shine through as the key elements of what makes this movie good.
The tone of the film stays the same throughout the movie for the most part. Except for around 3 times when the pace changes completely.
I’ll be honest, those 3 times are quite frustrating as they take a movie that’s on 90mph most of the time to close to a screeching halt. There’s a plotline that involves Eddie and Milo where Milo reveals he hasn’t got long to live and that’s why he took retirement instead of keeping working like Eddie. He decides at the end of the film to stay behind because he hasn’t got long to live in the real world anyway and that’s it.
The whole plot felt kinda shoehorned in to add some emotional weight. And though it does add something new from the movie, I’m not entirely sure it was needed. It almost felt as if the movie felt it had to add it to add depth. But I’m not overly convinced. The film genuinely could’ve done without it.
Also, the movie sometimes felt more like the film was driving the character’s choices rather than the choices of the characters influencing the plot. The best example of this is the fact that Milo comes to visit Eddie after years of not speaking to him. This just so happens to coincidentally be minutes before the other kids start up the Jumanji game and they all get sucked in.
It’s not a massive issue and it’s easily ignored but it does make you roll your eyes at all the “coincidences” that happen to our heroes now and again.
Acting
I have to say, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Danny DeVito are the real stars of this film. Their humor is amazing and they had me laughing throughout the entire thing. Their one-liner jokes were some of the best and their physical acting was outstanding.
It’s easy in a movie like this to not appreciate the skill that goes into that kind of thing but I was honestly amazed at how well they all encapsulated themselves in different bodies.
Did you see Jumanji – The Next Level? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the movie!
