By: Keaton Marcus

When the 1995-released, Robin Williams-starring "Jumanji" flick came out, I don't believe that audiences were expecting any reboots. Well, they thought wrong, as we now have two, in theaters 2017 and 2019 respectively. The one is given, dubbed "The Next Level", is not as fun as the original, but in its respects, it plays as a suitably entertaining sequel that greatly relies on the talented cast's chemistry. What especially clicks for both pictures is the excellent comedic relief, both highly-regarded in the first, and second film. The performances are top-notch, and it is a funny flick, but it suffers from severe sequel fatigue, and a couple of moments weren't as exciting as anticipated to be. What keeps it from truly being an average movie is the visually dazzling special effects and the beautifully-done action sequences featured many times throughout the 125-minute adventure comedy.

This time around, the old gang has returned, but there's a clever twist put into the mix. It's the holidays, and Martha (Morgan Turner), Fridge (Ser'Darius Blain), Bethany (Madison Iseman) and Spencer (Alex Wolff) agree to meet up at Nora's diner. However, Spencer fails to show and is nowhere to be found. The remainder visits his house and quickly realizes that he has been sucked into the infamous video-game called "Jumanji". So much for catching up on life, huh. Immediately, they transport themselves into the game to find their lost friend. Have I mentioned Spencer's grandfather, probably not, well his name's Eddie, and he ends up a major part of the plot? Portrayed by a hilarious Danny DeVito on Earth, and being character-swapped with Dr. Smolder Bravestone in the game, which happens to be The Rock attempting the nuances of playing a decrepit old man.

You may already think this is a little much to swallow, well, there's more. Eddie's friend-turned-enemy Milo (a fantastic Danny Glover) also got absorbed into Jumanji, character-swapped with Kevin Hart's Mouse Finbar. Yep, Spencer isn't the main role, and its the two grumpy, nearly deaf old men who arrive to save the day. Ridiculous as it may seem, Glover and DeVito's banter makes the twist more than welcome, and its the air-tight ticket to differing itself from its predecessor. The one issue with the special turn is the lack of nostalgia for the original, which is, sad to say, far superior to the sequel's surprise. Despite this, however, the fun and games director Jake Kasdan has with "The Next Level" is wildly appreciated, yet a tad disappointing.

What you've been waiting hear was: how was Dwayne Johnson's New Yorker accent? Odd, but entertaining is my response. The trick is, Johnson has that rare ability to make anything watchable, and it is exhibited highly in this movie. Not only that, but you will likely get serious kicks out of Mr. Johnson impersonating Danny DeVito. "Are we in Florida?" Bravestone irritatingly asks after finding it impossible to grasp his appearance in a video game. The multi-plex will be roaring in laughter in several scenes, but it just doesn't work enough. Although there are many imperfections, I adored The Rock and co-star Karen Gillan's chemistry, a shocking outing from rapper Awkwafina as Ming and the ultimately exhilarating computer-generated-imagery.

I'm not done. Why you may ask? Well, this "Jumanji" sequel doesn't only depend on the stellar performances, it has its moments as well. One that especially stood out was a thrilling Ostrich-chase in the middle of the desert, perhaps, fifty minutes in. The sound-effects, attention-to-detail, and enjoyable aspects from the clip help garner one of the best scenes in the film. Additionally, we find ourselves in a cat's cradle of bridges, soon to be overrun by computer-generated monkeys. It's all dazzling effects and Jack Black screeching nonsense about Geometry from there. These are all expertly delivered by Mr. Kasdan, who also directed "Welcome to the Jungle", and has a keen eye for expensive productions. Mock it for its ambitious plot twist, or a brainless decision or two, "The Next Level" is still a competent enough, often pleasant sequel that will keep us waiting for a third installment.

The final opinion is: While it's not much of an achievement, "Jumanji: The Next Level" makes for a visually-impressive, interesting and fun sequel that features an excellent, ensemble cast...$TREAM IT

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 59.2M

Domestic Total: 316.8M

Worldwide Total: 796M