A Review by Fr. Peter Malone
US, 2019, 123 minutes, Colour.
Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, Colin Hanks, Rory McCann, Bebe Neuwirth, Alex Wolff, Nick Jonas, Rhys Darby..
Directed by Jake Kasdan.
Way back in the 90s, Robin Williams invited the audience to go with him into the board game, Jumanji. After 20 years or so, the filmmakers decided it was time for a return, led by Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. It was a very popular success. So now, on to The Next Level – which seems remarkably like the previous level in terms of the landscapes of Jumanji, the need for rescues, the adventures and the difficulties, the resolutions.
However, with some tongue-in-cheek humour, the writers have moved to the next level in terms of which characters are in which avatars! Quite clearly, Dwayne Johnson has to be Dr Bravestone, the hero of the piece. There was always humour in Jack Black being the animal expert with Kevin Hart along for the dithering humour. And, Karen Gillan, was the archetypal active leading lady. So, this time, why not mix them up? And, for further complication, Spencer’s grandfather, Danny DeVito at his crotchety best, encountering his old partner in the restaurant business, Milo, Danny Glover, both of them caught up into the world of Jumanji. Which leads to quite a mixup – grandpa becomes a very crotchety Dr Bravestone. Ruby and the Professor get mixed up, Kevin Hart becomes Milo and, later, their friend Bethany arrives as a horse!
At one moment, the professor and Ruby revert to what we expect. But that is short-lived. The humour of this part of the film is added to by Dwayne Johnson having to imitate Danny DeVito’s voice. And, then when they discover Spencer in the form of an Asian warrior, Awkwafina, they all go on the adventures to rescue a jewel stolen by an ultra–Viking looking villain, Jurgen.
But, just as we wonder whether the group could achieve its mission, having been pursued by a huge flock of ostriches, being stranded in the desert, attacked by monkeys over a chasm with continually moving bridges, climbing mountains… The avatar roles are reversed and everything goes back to normal, Spencer is once again Dr Bravestone, Ruby and the professor are themselves as is Kevin Hart – but Awkwafiina is now grandpa’s avatar and then she has to imitate Danny De Vito’s voice while Milo becomes the horse. So, plenty to occupy the mind in mythical adventures in Jumanji land, plenty of excitement in the confrontations and battles – and always with some humour.
See Also: Plot, Cast, Production (Wikipaedia)
Worth Pondering... 