Jumanji: The Next Level Review

"Jumanji: The Next Level" is every bit as good as I could have hoped as a sequel to the surprisingly delightful 2017 reboot. All the big stars return, as does the world of Jumanji, and of course, our heroes return to that world. Only this time Danny Devito and Danny Glover (and others) join our cast and are sucked into the realm of CGI booby traps, deserts and jungles.

The plot is merely an excuse for Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart to act not only like teenagers, but also old men and animals! What the hell was going on in the screenwriter's room? Whatever it was, it certainly was for the best, because I laughed a lot, the end. Is it as good as the "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle?" Well, no, but that film had no expectations to fill, but if they weren't going to try for anything really new this time around, they at least recycled and refreshed the same jokes just enough to get another laugh out of me.

There is a lot of comedic mileage from the Danny duo, from their bickering about when they ran a restaurant in the real world to when both the Johnson and Hart play them in the game world. It's corny and cliche sure, but I laughed, particularly at the latter's impression of Mr. Glover, who's impression of a dopey old man who talks super slow and ponders off his train of thought is spot on.

A lot of body swapping goes on here, as this next level of Jumanji introduces a new hazard, water that swaps people if they touch while submerged. Sometimes our cast swap mid-scene, and at least once they all swap places! Things could be confusing, but everyone is such a cardboard character that once they talk, or sometimes even look, you know who's who; you instantly go "oh, the jock teenager kid is now Karen Gillan- oh welp, that didn't last long."

There is plenty of new high-flying set pieces, chases and ferocious animals to witness this time around, but there is an energetic sense of humor to the action. Oh sure, it's all CGI but the important word is that it's fun. It's right up there with the likes of Brendan Fraser's "The Mummy" franchise, though not as witty as something like, oh say "Indiana Jones." Here's hoping the next Jumanji just doesn't involve aliens.