"Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" Movie Review #1
"If you wish to leave the game, you must save Jumanji, and call out its name." Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is so fun though, audiences may not want to.
In this version of the game-come-to-life adventure, four high school students with a diverse set of personalities are sucked into the Jumanji video game, taking on characters with unique traits. They must work together with their given abilities to complete the game before losing their three lives.
It's a "wildly" different premise from the beloved original. And while I do think Jumanji 2 could have been a solid production without the crutch of brand recognition, I also did not loathe the connection either.
But where Jumanji 2 succeeds most is with its cast and characters. After a solid showing in Central Intelligence, Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart once again demonstrate fantastic chemistry for comic relief. Karen Gillan finds her place among the laughs as well while Jack Black's performance as a self-absorbed teenage girl is comedic gold.
Jumanji 2 hits all the right buttons and combos to level up what could've been a weak play on the Jumanji brand. From board game to video game...anyone up for a VR sequel?
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 1 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 2