Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle Review: Not As Good As The Original But Still Holds Its Own
December is the month of sequels. Two highly anticipated movies have premiered this month that are follow-ups to critically successful predecessors.
The first is Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the second one is Jumanji: Welcome To the Jungle.
Jumanji officially premiered last night and Enstarz has the review of the movie. Find out if Jumanji is worth to see.
A World Left Behind
Jumanji faced criticism before it premiered mainly because there was speculation that the film was a remake of the beloved 1995 classic. The film's main stars, Kevin Hart and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, have insisted that the film was a sequel, with its own original story. They were telling the truth.
While it doesn't have the same tone or structure as the first film, it still offers plenty of heart-warming moments and comedic highlights from Johnson, Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillian.
The film picks up a year after the first film, in 1996, where the board game is found on the beach by a random jogger. The jogger hears the drums and of course, picks up the game to bring home to his teenage son.
By 1996, video games started to become popular, so the teen doesn't find any interest in the game. The game is smart and has a mind of its own. While the boy is sleeping, it transforms itself into a video and entices the boy to play it. He gives in and the last thing we see is the green light absorbing his room.
Alan Parrish Is Here
The film then jumps to present day where the teens are meaner and more self-absorbed. Spencer Gilpin (Alex Wolf) is a nerd who once had a friendship with football jock, Anthony "Fridge"' Johnson.
To still be in Fridge's life, Spencer offers to do his homework and write his essays. This, of course, lands the two in big trouble and sent right to detention. Also in detention is the popular girl, Bethany Walker, who was video chatting during a quiz, and bookworm, Martha Kaply, who insulted the gym teacher.
The four are cleaning up the school's basement when they find the game in a box with other donated goods. Curiosity gets the best of them and they power the game up. After each choosing a character, they're sucked into the video game and inhibit the body of their characters.
Spencer becomes Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Johnson), a good-looking archaeologist and leader of the team. Fridge becomes Franklin "Moose" Finbar (Hart), a zoologist and Bravestone's sidekick. Martha is Ruby Roundhouse (Gillian), a commando who can "dance fight," and Bethany becomes Professor Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon (Black), a paleontologist.
The four hilariously find their way through the game and the jungle while they search for 'the missing piece' that will help them escape the game. Also, they have to defeat the villain of the game, Russel Van Pelt (Bobby Cannavale).
Nick Jonas stars as Seaplane McDonough, a pilot, who, in reality, is the avatar for Alex Vreeke, the teenage boy who disappeared 20 years ago.
There are funny moments such as Oberon constantly hitting on McDonough and trying to teach Roundhouse how to flirt with men.
There are parts that are a nod to the original. Seaplane, who doesn't know he's been trapped in the game for over two decades, recuperates from his failed attempts of trying to leave the game in a hut that builds by Robin Williams' character, Alan Parrish.
There are cliche moments as well such as Bravestone and Finbar fighting over their failed friendship while Roundhouse and Bravestone professing their admiration for one another.
Overall, the film touches on the same message as the original. We all only have one life to live, so, make it count.
Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle is now showing in theaters.
