Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) - Film Review

Review:

*Originally written January 8th, 2017*

"Jungle Fever"

A sequel to Jumanji coming this late seems like an odd prospect. The first is a treasured childhood classic for a lot of people and the death of Robin Williams just made this seem like an awful idea, then there was the casting of Kevin Hart and the truly awful trailers. Much to my surprise, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is far from the disaster I expected, it's not great, but for the most part, it's perfectly serviceable entertainment.

Updating Jumanji into a video game is something that sounds awful on paper, but works pretty well on screen. They expand the rules of the board, so I guess it can adapt to its surroundings and manipulate anyone around it into playing it. The board was still left exactly where it ended up at the end of the first film, which was a nice touch too.

Things start a little slow, the new cast of kids are actually pretty annoying and kind of assholes. There's the shy nerd, the jock, the hot, self absorbed blonde and the girl who doesn't quite fit in. I have a hard time trying to remember any of these characters. We spend quite a while with them before they enter the board game, it's just a shame the time we spend with them is pretty dull and just feels like a poor mans Breakfast Club.

Once we enter Jumanji, things really start to get fun and pick up. The cast are great (Aside from Kevin Hart, who is just annoying). Dwayne Johnson is just pure charisma from his appearance alone. Karen Gillian is great as the scantly clad explorer with a decent character arc and Jack Black steals the show by being the funniest part. I will mention Bobby Cannavale, who is completely wasted as the villain, a boring piece of cardboard that left no impact. He was nothing on the hunter from the original.

While the CGI is blatant and obvious, there is a lot of fun with the set-pieces. It's over the top and ridiculous and lacks the charm of the original, but it's highly entertaining to watch. There's some cool stuff with the video game elements. Each character has their own unique skills and abilities, some silly and some hilarious (Pie). 

There's really very little to say about Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, it's just very basic and undemanding entertainment, you enjoy what you watch, but by the end of it there's very little to process. I will say I loved the ending though. A huge "Fuck you" to films that end with sequel bait. That said, I wouldn't say no to more Jumanji in the future.

6/10 Dans

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is out now in cinemas in the UK
Watch the trailer below:

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