Just When We Thought We Were Out, They Drag Us Back In!

Kaleidoscope's latest is on Columbia Pictures & Sony's production of "Jumanji: The Next Level".  Directed & co-written by Jake Kasdan, the movie stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, & Nick Jonas.  Rated 'PG-13', it has a running time of 2 hr., 3 min.

The movie opens in 2019, 3 years after the events in "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle".  Ruby/Martha (Gillan), Franklin/'Fridge' (Hart), Professor Sheldon/ Bethany (Black), & Dr. Smolder/Spencer (Johnson) are planning a get-together to renew their friendship.  When the time comes, however, Spencer does not show.  Feeling that his life lacks purpose in college, Spencer considers going back into the Jumanji video game since he still possesses the game system, albeit a broken one.  The next day, the other 3 visit Spencer's home.  Here they meet Spencer's Uncle Eddie (DeVito) & Eddie's old restaurant partner Milo (Glover).  They all head to the basement, find the video game, & realize that Spencer has returned to the Jumanji world.  The game seems to malfunction while restarting, sucking only Martha & Fridge into the game.  The remainder of the plot I will leave alone since there are many twists that must be experienced in the theater.

As the director of the 1st film ( we will not reference 1995's original with Robin Williams), Kasdan knows a winning formula when he sees one.  He directs with the same flair that he showed before--swiftly moving action, eliciting befuddled performances from his leads, staying with the numerous one-liners just long enough for maximum effectiveness, etc.  He is aided by a script by Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, & himself that injects enough new characters, criss-cross identities, & new jokes/humorous situations that the viewer does not realize until later that he/she has really seen much of it in the former iteration.  However, during this festive holiday season, one tends to not mind because the viewer is having so much fun during the 2 hour running time.  It was a smart idea for the screenplay to bring in 2 old seasoned actors & 1 new one to enliven the proceedings.  DeVito & Glover--they center the screen whenever they appear.  While their types of characters are cliched ones--the crotchety, curmudgeonly uncle, DeVito, & the wiser, kinder best friend, Glover, one always welcomes these old pros.  The new pro, Awkwafina, commands the screen with every appearance.  Having whetted our expectations with her appearances in "Oceans 8" & "Crazy Rich Asians", she bursts into wide recognition with her astute, charming, & hilarious role of Ming Fleetfoot.  One cannot take one's eyes from her whenever she appears.  Johnson, Gillan, Hart, Black, Jonas, & the young actors who play the aforementioned characters in 'real life' are all very fine in their roles--as if they were satisfyingly slipping into comfortable, favorite old shoes.  Gyula Pados's cinematography coupled with Steve Edwards's, Mark Helfrich's, & Tara Timpone's editing makes for swift, clear action sequences that make for a quick 2 hours.  Henry Jackman's score borrows heavily from his prior effort on 'Welcome to the Jungle'; it is fun & appropriate, and one long remembers those anticipatory drums.

I give "Jumanji: The Next Level" 8 out of 10 nuggets.  While not much is new here, this is a perfect holiday film that can be enjoyed by the whole family.  If your family has already seen "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" take them to your nearest cineplex for a fun, adventurous time at the movies!