Jumanji: The Next Level - Review

Release Date:  December 13, 2019​​​​​​​​​

A Surprising Misstep

The reboot of Jumanji back in 2017 was a huge hit. By almost making a billion dollars at the box office and taking on Star Wars: The Last Jedi, it's legacy in Hollywood has been cemented. The sequel aims for the magic to continue as it faces Star Wars once again for the holiday season; the only difference is that there is much more competition thanks to that first film proving there is space for more movies during this time. The sequel has to prove that the reboot wasn't a fluke by being fun to watch. As long as that goal is achieved, Jumanji: The Next Level would be an easy recommendation.

​These movies' greatest strengths continue to be getting the actors to act very unlike themselves. Welcome to the Jungle had Jack Black take center stage as he impersonated a teenage girl with all of the mannerisms to go along with it. That wasn't the only good performance as Karen Gillian did a great job embodying a fish out of water and being a constant in the group. The Next Level has Kevin Heart pull focus as he acts like an older man perfectly. His back-and-forth with Dwayne Johnson's character are hilarious, which is facilitated

by absurd dialogue. In second place again is Gillan as she continues to be the rock that is the foundation for the story. Since the cast expanded for the sequel, it would be remiss not to acknowledge Aquafina, who, at the ending of the movie, does the best acting.

​Everything else just doesn't work. The story is worse this time around, which completely boggles my mind. There is too much filler, which usually comes from scenes designed to make the audience laugh without any actual substance. It can all be traced back to the plot's inability to have motives for its characters' actions. This lack of direction that slows everything down brings the pacing to a crawl. Instead of being a tight fun movie, Jumanji: The Next Level ends up being a frustrating experience that is nowhere near as enjoyable.

I know that for some viewers, the changes made to characters and pacing won't be a problem for them. But I would implore them to ask if the sequel really is as good as the first. It honestly felt like I was on an amusement park ride as I was whisked to different locations with little prompting. Though there are some funny moments and there is fun to be had, it just doesn't come close. It's not like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was an impeccable movie that knew what to do, but it was better than this. I was very excited about this film; I thought that I was going to get more of everything I saw from the first, and in a way, I did. Since the ending hints at a third Jumanji movie, I would like to advise for that not happen. They should have focused on this installment being fun instead of trying to make a Jumanji franchise.

3.5/10
​It's time to stop