Review of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) by John M — 15 Mar 2018

Fun and games. So before board games had their recent renaissance, they went out of style for a stretch of time. To continue existing, the board game Jumanji had to adapt and become a video game (just go with it).

When four high schoolers get entrapped in the game, they will have to work together to survive the dangers of the jungle and escape back to reality. I don't think there was hardly anybody that was looking forward to this.

I know I most certainly wasn't. I don't really remember the original Jumanji all that well, and this was a sequel that nobody was asking for. I didn't really get excited for this until I heard a review that said that this had an actual script instead of having two hours of actors improvising, and that is the precise moment I started taking this seriously.

The filmmakers pulled a fast one and ended up making a smart and wildly entertaining roller coaster ride that is fun for everyone. I totally get the decision to go with a video game in this over the board game.

It makes sense so as to be more culturally relevant, and it also allows it to be more mainstream and have more appeal to today's youth. It was a choice that really paid off, and if you have a background in gaming, you're going to get a bonus layer of smart in-jokes, and it feels like they are there just for you.

From NPCs that only have certain lines to say to typos in a game just because quality control wasn't always a thing throughout the years, you're going to have a really uproarious time with this.

You do have to just roll with the setup, as it is probably the flimsiest part of the film, but they don't dwell on it, they just get it out of the way as quickly as possible to get you to Jumanji, and once you arrive, it is hilarous and entertaining to the end.

On top of all that, you have honest to God chemistry between the four leads. They are all kids who have personalities that don't match the bodies that they are in, and it is a ridiculously good time to watch play out.

They even imagine to utilize Kevin Hart correctly which happens less and less often as the years go on, and Jack Black really steals the show playing a teenage girl. There really isn't a weak link in the bunch, and you become invested in it because they build up the stakes.

It's a huge surprise for me being that I don't have strong feelings for the original, and Jumanji is one of the biggest crowd pleasers of 2017.