Jumanji: The Next Level Movie Review

“Jumanji: The Next Level” is a direct sequel to “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”. If you remember, that movie was an enjoyable romp with a few good actors doing a decent performance in an over-the-top goofy situation. That one performed well enough to require a sequel, and it turns up the energy level to 11. For this new movie, it helps to have the same four main actors back in the same roles. Plus, with the same director in charge also amps up the fun level and makes for another nice comic romp.

Just like the first movie, the main group of friends who get pulled into the Jumanji video game. These include Spencer (Alex Wolff), Bethany (Madison Iseman), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), and Martha (Morgan Turner). But this time there some other people who get involved by accident, Spencer’s grandfather and his old business partner. They are old ‘frenemies’ Eddie (Danny DeVito) and Milo (Danny Glover). Spencer is having some issues after going to college, and he is having trouble. He yearns for a more exciting and fun time, like when he and his friends entered the Jumanji game world and got to have grand adventures. But he goes into it alone, and his buddies get in there to come to his rescue…

Once in the game, the players are assigned to ‘avatar’ players, who represent the real-word people. These avatars are Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), Mouse Finbar (Kevin Hart), Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan) and Professor Shelly Oberon (Jack Black). But the same real people are not assigned to the same avatars this time around. Also for some reason, Bethany did not get pulled into the game – and instead grandpa Eddie and Milo did get sucked in there. So now Eddie is playing Bravestone, Fridge is playing Oberon, and Milo is playing Finbar. Only Martha is Roundhouse, which was the same as the first adventure. They are still in the dark about how to find Spencer, and why Bethany was not pulled into the game. But there is a new quest – find the stolen jewel stone and put it back into its rightful place in the sun.

This entire crew gets sidelined in sand dunes and chased by an angry flock of ostriches. They survive to find an oasis town and they meet up with Spenser. He has been placed into a new avatar character named Ming Fleetfoot (Awkwafina). A new villain has taken the jewel stone to a mountain fortress. The group works to try and get there, and they also face off against wild and angry mandrills. It seems that all the animals in Jumani are angry for some reason.

Back in the real-world – Bethany goes to get help from a guy named Alex (Colin Hanks) who the four friends rescued during the first adventure. They both decide to get back into the Jumanji game, to rescue Spencer and the rest of them. Alex comes into the game playing Seaplane McDonough (Nick Jonas), and Bethany comes in playing a black horse named Cyclone. When they complete the goal of the game, they all will be ready to go back into the real world. Well, almost all of them… But there are adventures to finish and a new level to conquer before they are done. The game is sometimes harsh and cruel, but the four friends reaffirm the bond of friendship they created when they first played inside the Jumnji video game.

This movie is a fun way to kick back and let your mind run on auto-pilot for a while. “Jumanji: The Next Level” does not take itself too seriously, and that is where much of the fun can be found. The plot speeds along like jaguar drinking Red Bull. Plot holes are discarded and covered up with a patchwork of jokes and quick edits. The direction is wild like the jungle, but sometimes it can slow down to give a couple of the characters a chance to connect and get back into a groove. Jake Kasdan is the one behind the scenes, directing and even co-writing. But he handles this broad comedy with flair and flourish.

Inside the Jumanji game, the actors have a free reign to act with broad comic strokes. This style really fits well with Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart. Karen Gillan plays a little bit on the straight and level, not over-the-top as some others. Awkwafina makes a funny presence in the movie, and Nick Jonas does a decent job. All the other actors have more of a cameo role, appearing at the very front end of the movie, and then at some point back at the end. They are all fine. But perhaps Danny Glover should take a hint from his previous character (Roger Murtaugh from the movie “Lethal Weapon”). He does look like he is ‘getting too old for this sh*t’….

“Jumanji: The Next Level” is not a required next step sequel. But if have seen “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”, and you are in the mood for a little action and fun – then this is a goofy little answer to that movie. It will take you to a new level, so it could be fun to play along with Jumnji.

Ready, Player One… opps, different movie…