Jumanji: The Next Level is the Best One Yet
In the highly exctiting and uproariously funny Jumanji: The Next Level, Spencer (Alex Wolff) goes back inside the video game of Jumanji to become Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson) again. However, he ends up being a different character and is now stuck in a different game. Spencer’s friends, Martha (Morgan Turner), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain) and Bethany (Madison Iseman) go back into the game of Jumanji, but also accidentally bring Spencer’s grandfather (Danny DeVito) and his friend, Milo Walker (Danny Glover), into the mix. Spencer’s friends believe the game is the same, but once they land in the world, everything has changed, including their avatars. The gang is thrown to a new game of Jumanji, as they will try, once again, to survive the game.
The possibilities for a fun body-swap film are endless and, thankfully, director Jake Kasdan isn’t afraid of taking the concept to the extremes. Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart are absolutely hilarious imitating Danny DeVito and Danny Glover who both look like they’re having the time of their lives. Every scene involving the characters not really knowing they are in a video game and trying to figure out what to say and/or do is as hilarous as the last one and keeps getting funnier and funnier. There’s a human side that I didn’t expect in which Moose Finbar(Kevin Hart) in Milo’s body that he is dying of cancer to Bravestone in Spencer’s Grandfather’s body. It caught me by surprise and almost made me tear up. This is what was greatly missing in the last Jumanji film, a human side. The film is able to balance comedy/drama perfectly, as the human side of the characters come out and bring some great character development that was sorely missing. You can also tell that the real-life characters have evolved and their experience in the game has been a gift than anything else, except for Spencer, who dreams of being Bravestone again. That being said, the comedy is still spot-on or, in my opinion, funnier than the last one as they are now able to experiment with body-swap humor. Jack Black was the highlight of the last movie, playing an egotistical Instagram influencer, and is still hilarious as a ripped black young adult in an “old fat dude” body. By far, the funniest joke of the film involve Bravestone’s weakness, Switchblade. I’ll leave it at that, but once Jack Black says “That’s SWITCHBLAYYYYYDE”you will be in for a fantastic treat.
The action is elevated and its scale ramped up compared to the previous installment. The film is a must-see in IMAX, but not in IMAX 3D. In Canada, due to the recent purchase from Cineworld, Cineplex has started showing “North American IMAX 2D-exclusives for 3D movies” in IMAX 3D again. The 3D added nothing to the movie and is almost non-existent for the duration of the movie. There are (a lot) of times in which I completely ignored that the movie was in 3D and it felt very flat and unncessary. Thankfully, the IMAX experience is still great, especially for elevating its terrific action setpieces and sound design. The acton setpieces are epic in scale and enthralling to watch. The reprise of Big Mountain’s “Baby I Love Your Way” with Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan)’s dance fighting is terrifically kinetic and exciting. All of the action setpieces are well-staged and moves like a choreography. It’s refreshing to see that big-scale blockbusters that base on a video game aesthetic will capture thatsaid aesthetic in its action setpieces to create some fantastic vibe & energy that will permeate in the entire duration of the movie. I had a big smile on my face during most of the action setpieces, due to its highly kinetic nature and its fantastic mix of brilliant peril and great comedy.
It’s great to see that the Jumanji franchise is still going strong, four movies in, and the momentum doesn’t seem to cease. After viewing the film’s mid-credits sequence, it’s only natural to want MORE from the franchise and another sequel. If the sequel will deepen the characters’ relationship with Jumanji even more and explore different parts of the mythos with the premise that it seems to be setting up, I’m all in. Give it to me. I’ll be the first one there opening day to see it.
✯✯✯✯½
