Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle: A Welcome and Surprisingly Fresh Sequel

©2017. Property of Sony Pictures Entertainment

My eyes rolled so far they risked falling out the back of my head when I saw the first trailer for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (JWJ) a year ago. Who asked for a sequel to the 1995 cult classic film featuring Robin Williams at some of his most zany and memorable? And who thought Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would make a good successor to the late Williams? Whoever had the crazy idea for this reboot should be commended. Surprisingly, JWJ is a fresh, inventive, and well-written blockbuster.

Much like the original film, JWJ begins in 1996 with a naïve father bringing home a board game he found washed up on the beach for his son, Alex. Because board games are so passé, Alex shrugs off the game until he hears drums in the middle of the night. Upon examination, the board has replaced itself with a video game cartridge. Just as Robin Williams did two decades ago, Alex disappears into the game never to be seen again.

Flash forward to today and four unsuspecting high schoolers stuck in detention stumble upon the game cartridge. Taking a break from their menial task of de-stapling recyclable magazines, the four begin playing--being sucked into the same digital jungle as Alex did two decades earlier. They morph into their selected avatars: Dr. Smolder Bravestone (The Rock, San Andreas), Mouse Finbar (Kevin Hart, Ride Along), Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy), and Professor Shelly Oberon (Jack Black in his best role since School of Rock). Each avatar has strengths opposite of the high schoolers’ real world counterparts and the team must work together to save Jumanji, beat the game, and return to their lives.

By the game's end, the five-some becomes a well-oiled machine complimenting their strengths and weaknesses.
©2016 CTMG. Photo by Frank Masi

The plot is undeniably formulaic. The script, however, feels fresh thanks to sharp humor and winning performances from the cast. Watching the film it is clear that the four main cast members (later unexpectedly joined by Nick Jonas) had a blast shooting. That same energy and fun translates wonderfully on the big screen. Funnily enough, the plot for the video game of Jumanji plays out much like a Nathan Drake Uncharted game (ironic since a poster for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End hangs in one of the high schoolers’ bedrooms).

As a video game player myself, I was thoroughly entertained by the subtle commentary on the ridiculousness of gaming. Why does Ruby Roundhouse wear such an impractical and revealing outfit? What makes non-player characters so stupid? How come those drums always play before something bad happens? No matter the questions, JWJ has a clever answer up its sleeves.

Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart give solid performances but the real stars of this flick are Karen Gillan and Jack Black. Unfamiliar as I was with Ms. Gillan, (I’ve yet to see the Guardians movies) she was a real delight as Ruby Roundhouse. Beginning as a demure young woman (her high school counterpart, Martha, is the definition of a wall flower), Ruby eventually fully embraces her “killer of men” moniker. Specific commendation should be given for her physical comedy which is fully on display in a flirtation gone wrong that eventually devolves into beautifully choreographed “dance fighting” with armed guards.

Mr. Black, who I have not been impressed with since his superb work in School of Rock, is a wondrous treat. Embodying the vain Instagram-obsessed Bethany, Jack Black turns a tired trope (swapping bodies with someone of another gender) and makes it feel brand new. There is a certain sincerity in his actions, from discovering how to urinate with a penis to his lack of physical abilities, that would be hard for another performer to replicate. Whenever he was on screen, it was clear that another bout of laughter was just around the corner.

Even in their initial stages, the team knows how to strike a pose.
©2016 CTMG. Photo by Frank Masi

While the laughs and the action come easily, JWJ occasionally falters during quieter moments. The love story between Dr. Bravestone and Ruby is rushed despite being fairly pleasant and the conflict between Dr. Bravestone and Mouse feels a bit tired. Nevertheless, the scenes are necessary for a film that follows a pattern which has been well-laid over dozens of similar flicks.

No matter how long 3-D movies stay around, I do hope the fad fades away sooner rather than later. As a film purist who believes that 2-D films possess just as much wonder, it is slightly frustrating to see repeated shots of large items flying toward the camera. Cutting down on these unnecessary moments is essential in maintaining a high quality of cinematography.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle isn’t about to win any Oscars but it executes everything it tries with the greatest finesse and enjoyment. There is a reason The Rock is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors: he is always up for anything, his comedic timing is as strong as his muscular body, and when he is around you know you’re in for a good time.

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