"Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" is a Welcome Sequel
By The Entertainment Editorial Team
Sequels are usually one of two things - incredibly good or incredibly unnecessary. Having one hit film is already a tough challenge but two? Well, that's asking a lot from the universe. This may be why producer, Matt Tolmach had to wait about 20 years and many writers and directors later to finally create a sequel to the hit 1995 film, Jumanji, starring the iconic Robin Williams. It's one thing to want to make a sequel to a successful film but to make one that not very many people asked for? That takes a special set of ingredients (and the right timing) to get right.
Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
THE STORY
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle takes place about 20 years after the original film. The story first starts in 1996 when the original Jumanji board game from the original film gets found and transformed into a classic video game (think N64 - which was also released that same year). We then fast-forward to the present day and meet our four main characters: Spencer (the nerd), "Fridge" (the Football Star), Bethany (the popular one), and Martha (the smart/sarcastic one). They receive detention and end up finding the video game and getting transported into Jumanji and transformed into the game avatars they chose. Spencer becomes Dr. Smolder Bravestone (played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) aka the lead action hero. "Fridge" becomes Franklin "Mouse" Finbar aka the sidekick (played by Kevin Hart). Bethany becomes Dr. Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon (played to hilarious effect by Jack Black). Martha becomes Ruby Roundhouse, the heroine and martial arts expert. This ragtag team is stuck in the video game and the only way to leave the world of the game is to do what you normally have to do in games
THE CAST
When it comes to ensemble films, the cast makes or breaks the film. Simple as that. And the challenge this film faced was that it needed two sets of casts that had the right chemistry and on-screen presence for this story. And boy did they get this cast right. With the out of game/ real life teenaged characters , Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blaine, Madison Iseman, and Morgan Turner did a great job as these high school characters each in their own clique but able to find that friendship with one another. It helped that they cast relatively unknown actors in the roles as to not bring too much distraction from the main cast members.
Then we have the in-game characters (who the audience spends most of the film with). They put together a great ensemble with Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black. Each actor was the perfect choice to play these stereotypical video game characters because not only did they physically embody the parts perfectly well, they really brought depth to the characters that being able to embody their teenage counterparts. The dichotomy between Dwayne's portrayal of a character named Dr. Bravestone while also simultaneously being able to pull off the personality of a teenaged nerd. The absolute standout performance was by Jack Black. If they gave away Oscars for middle-aged men playing 16 year old social media-obsessed girls playing video game characters who were cartography experts, he would win it. EVERY. TIME. His interactions with Nick Jonas' characters They brought life and more importantly, heart, to these characters who could have easily become one dimensional. Ultimately, that'd the best sign of success for a film like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
THE DIRECTION
The action and visuals were fun if not atypical. The intention to put down the visuals, however, we live in a time where there people flying in the air or cars defying the laws of physics are a dime a dozen. There are no real big twists to the story, but that's okay. The team behind this film brought big fun and lots of heart. That's what really makes this film a crowd-pleaser (not to mention special). In the time of reboots, Sony and the filmmakers made the correct choices in making this new film its own while making some small touches that give honor to the original 1995 film. They honor that film, but they are not beholden to it. They provide inclusiveness and relate-ability through the characters that initially portray them as caricatures but then turn them into real characters. Although the movie is a little less than 2 hours long, each main character has their own arc. That's more than many films these days can say for themselves. In today's globalized society, this film finds the right elements to bring a universality to everything.
THE CONCLUSION
Time will tell if there will be an additional chapter added on to the Jumanji franchise but until then, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is indeed a welcome sequel - one that even the late, great Robin Williams may have given his approval. From Star Wars to DC to Marvel and more, the times of sequels and prequels are seemingly here to stay. That being said, if you want to enjoy an action-packed adventure film with you family, this is the perfect one to enjoy together (Though you probably shouldn't take the younger kids since there is still quite a bit of inappropriate language).
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is in theaters now.