Review of Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) by Olilovesmovies — 24 Dec 2019

I think that a vital element to reviewing movies lays in understanding the context and purpose of what it is you are watching. With that in mind, Jumanji the Next Level is not trying to be an Oscar worthy exploration of the median of film making, nor should it be. It is self aware in its goofiness and frequently leans into it. When the previous Jumanji movie came out I was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining it was. I wouldn’t say this film feels quite as fresh as its predecessor, since it relies on a number of similar jokes, however for the most part, the film was entertaining, and got some genuine laughs out of me. All the actors are clearly having fun with the roles, and that fun is infectious. Likewise there is solid on screen chemistry. I do worry that the continuation of this franchise could see it tire out very quickly and since the film does hint at a sequel (combined with Hollywood’s obsessions with flogging franchises of every penny possible) it wouldn’t surprise me to see another. We will have to see then whether my fears were justified.

However for now, this is a bit of fun that is well made for the most part and worth the price of admission even if it is just an exercise in switching your brain off for a couple of hours. There is nothing wrong with that either, life and the world are too dark to not have room for some silly entertainment sometimes.

7/10 Silly, Goofy Fun - primarily aimed at a younger audience.