Movie – Jumanji: The Next Level

Movies Feb 12, 2020

Overview:

The film starts about 3 years after the first Jumanji movie. It takes place when the original main characters are out of high school and are coming back together over a break to have a meetup with each other. Spenser is having a bit of a hard time with his mental state and doesn’t know how to cope with himself. He sees his other friends having a good time, or at least the appearance of it through the photos he sees. After seeing how their lives are he compares it directly with his and assumes that because of what he sees in the pictures looks like a *better* life than the one he is currently living that he is not up to snuff or has not gone to the next level… sorry kek.

When he arrives at home, his dilemma becomes more prominent and he stresses greatly about what he wants to be and focuses solely on what he could be. Rather than taking steps to properly better himself he chooses to avoid his life situations and problems and wants to go back into the game to live the life of another character that he believes to be ideal. Ma boi de Rock, or in the film Dr. Bravestone.

The rest of the main cast, his friends that agreed to meet up with him, are at the meetup place but realize he is not there. They believe something is wrong so go and seek him out to see what was going on with him and get a reason as to why he didn’t show up when he said he would.

This is where the adventure begins, they go to his house and find that he went back into the game. Once inside the game it is a bit different than the first time around. From here on out you got an overview of what the team needs to accomplish and they are off… but damn, The Rock, Kevin and Jack :perf: those 3 together are simply great. A few more characters are implemented with a sad background story on top of Spenser’s Grandpa and best friend.

Visuals/Music:

All visuals are what one would expect, there is CGI used, it looks good and not out of place, but as with all CGI give it a few years and it will probably not hold up too well. Good enough for its time though. As for color affect it was clear but slightly darker tone at times with juicier at others. It fit well with the type of mood and style of movie it was. None of what was done felt out of place and it fit well.

OST’s throughout were as they should be, in that it was used when needed to improve immersion of the viewer to the film. Silence used accordingly. Wasn’t a point that the music felt overpowering in consideration to the scene.

Final Thoughts:

I honestly love the trio of The Rock, Kevin and Jack. The way they interact with each other keeps the comedy going but not in a cringy or nasta way. Its clean, fun and playful. It honestly felt as though the producer gave them an overview and went `we want to accomplish this task at this part… have at it and improvise` It didn’t feel like much of a script was going on, but that’s exactly what made it feel more natural and fun. It felt like all 3 were let loose and understood what needed to be done and had at it for how to script it to get there.

Jack Black especially since he swapped genders… well with who controlled his avatar in the context of the movie lol. The way he is able to fluidly swap between and just go with it without it feeling forced is too good. Rock being old man lingo, beatin people up and all, so many good parts and situations throughout.

All three of the trio do good movies independently and putting them all together honestly brings out the best of them and can tell they just have a good time throughout bs’ing around and enjoying themselves.

Usually with sequels they don’t surpass the previous one with ease but even from the very beginning it tops it. In a few minutes and can tell it’s a better overall movie, it improves on near every aspect and I loved it. I highly recommend to any that have watched and enjoyed the first one. For any who haven’t seen the first, probably should watch it first but not a must, it will be a fun watch either way, watching the first gives more background and story context though.

With the ending, it is more than likely that there will be a third film, not guaranteed but highly likely form the looks of it. If a third film does come to fruition, definitely going to watch it and have some pretty high expectations after this.