Review of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) by Troy C — 27 Dec 2017

Technically a sequel, but realistically a soft reboot, Jumanji 2.0 takes the central concept of the original and transforms it into an action-adventure outing for its digitally-savvy audience. Board games are out and video games are in.

It won't win any awards for screenwriting with it's predictable and plodding plot-high school stereotypes must save the titular game-world by returning a stolen jewel-however the team of scribes get one big tick; the introduction of a body swap conceit generates consistent laughs.

In fact, the broad comedy is consistently (and surprisingly) excellent. There's a lot of low-hanging fruit, sure, but the combination of the cast's comedic timing and their willingness to poke fun at themselves is a winning formula that absolutely shines through.

Dwayne Johnson is his usual likable self as jungle explorer Dr Smolder Bravestone, Karen Gillan is a crack-up as the awkward bad-ass Ruby Roundhouse, Kevin Hart gives good Kevin Hart as sidekick Mouse Finbar, and Jack Black unequivocally steals the show as an egotistical "hot-girl" stuck in the body of overweight, middle-aged man Professor Shelly Oberon.

The set pieces are decent without ever really impressing, the raft of winks and nods to the 1995 version earning enough goodwill to let the lack of originality slide for two-thirds of the movie. The final act, however, becomes quite the slog to get through as the comedy is swept aside in favour of an action finale full of poor CGI, unmemorable sequences and an overacting Bobby Canavale as the sneering villain.

A flawed action movie, but a good-quality laugh-at-loud comedy, Jumanji is the epitome of Boxing Day family flick: dumb but hilarious, messy but entertaining.