Stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Rhys Darby, Nick Jonas, with Alex Wolff, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Morgan Turner and Bobby Cannavale Directed by Jake Kasdan The first Jumanji movie came out in 1995 when CGI effects were starting to come into bloom, achieving near photorealistic effects for the numerous animals featured in that movie. The benefit of that movie and its grand adventure was that you really had no idea where the story would go. Anything and everything that happened was a surprise, relying on the whim of the dice as the board game was played. The sequel potentials were enormous so long as the creative team had the imagination to let the story go anywhere, but nothing happened. Coming over 20 years later, this belated sequel reimagines the board game. Instead of things going into the board game or whatever might come out as the dice roll, the game magically transforms itself into a cartridge video game that would suck the player into the game. As before, one youngster goes missing while playing the game - but no one really knows about it then, just that the boy has disappeared. Over 20 years later - in story time - four new players find the game and continue, only to get sucked into the magical world of Jumanji, a lush jungle world filled with everything you’d expect to find in a jungle. The four youngsters, nerdy Spencer (Alex Wolff), bookish Martha (Morgan Turner), built footballer Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain) and vapid Bethany (Madison Iseman) take on avatars in the game that are complete opposites such as, respectively, hulking Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), femme fatale Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan), diminutive Moose Finbar (Kevin Hart) and “overweight middle-aged man” Shelly Oberon (Jack Black). As the nature of the game has changed, so have the surprises, making this Jumanji play out as a treasure hunt movie while applying game mechanics, i.e. non-player characters who helpfully dispense advice and directions. The characters have to overcome their own real-life issues in order to work together, finish the game, and return home. Therein lies majority of the fun, particularly with the main stars (Johnson, Hart, Gillan, Black) often playing against type. Jack Black in particular has the funniest bits as Bethany trying to deal with being a man. Johnson plays to his strengths as well and helps to carry much of the movie’s action beats. Gillan does well enough with her character while Hart continues his double act with Johnson, carried over from Central Intelligence. Director Jake Kasdan manages to control the action and dramatic beats in order to deliver a rip-roaring adventure, but something still feels missing. The lack of surprise and ingenuity is strongly felt as we are missing the randomness of the dice. The humour and fun may be adequate compensation though, and for some, that is all that’s needed. I just feel it’s a disservice to the core concept of the original Jumanji film. Spoiler zone. (Select the blank area to read) In the first film, the original board game seemed to rely on the first game being played. That meant when the game was concluded, it reverted to the time of the original game with the kids in the present day not fully being aware of having taken part in the game. That has changed here. When the game is finished, we’re still in the present day as if nothing much has changed except that the missing boy was never missing in the first place (he returns to his place a the end of the game, 20 years in the past). Of course, since the four present day kids are the ones we’re following in the story and they’re the ones mostly affected by the game, we have to end with them… story-wise. It also changes a fundamental aspect of the game and nature of the story. Time-travel rules may apply so long as the boy who returns to the past, at some point in time, makes sure the game ends up where it’s supposed to for the four present day kids to find and play the game… although by nature of the game itself, it shouldn’t really need to happen. It’s just a gripe, something for the more detailed oriented fans to discuss at length. It’s mainly why I’m knocking 1/2* and my rating is thus. It tries to respect the original and has a nice little tribute too. While it’s still an entertaining and fun movie to watch, it dents the spirit of the original for me. Rating: *** /5 Find the best online deals here. | Barnes and Noble | Google Play Store | Book Depository Discover more about the books here. Please Support.
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