This Jumanji Sequel Is a Satisfying Tribute to the Original

By Avik Basak



I do not know about you but I was very sceptical before watching this sequel to the 1995 adventure-comedy, Jumanji, titled, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle after watching the awful trailers. I mean so many times we see in Hollywood movies these days where the movie is a let down to its trailers but this time it is the other way around. Welcome to the Jungle is not only entertaining from the word, go but also has a good story, pretty much like the original.


In this sequel, four teenagers from the small town of Branford disappear into Jumanji, a board game that has updated itself to a video game to go with the taste of the modern kids. In the game, they are assigned different avatars and are asked to fulfil various objectives, without which they cannot return home. Various video game jargons such as lives, levels, non-playing characters, special powers, character weaknesses etc. have been portrayed flawlessly to keep us invested in it.


It has adventure, thrill and a strong dose of comedy that make it an entertaining watch. I mean, I was watching it in a packed theatre and everyone was just laughing and screaming throughout the film’s runtime like we were part of this adventure somehow.


The cast led by Dwayne Johnson does well to bring their characters to life. Johnson once again reminds us how talented he has become in the recent years. I mean his comic timing was always good but with time he has achieved a kind of maturity as an actor and it clearly shows in this movie (Keep a watch for his “smoldering charisma”). Karen Gillian and Kevin Hart do well in their respective parts, while Bobby Cannavale’s antagonist is also quite convincing. But it is Jack Black who steals the show. Black plays the Jumanji avatar of Madison Iseman’s Bethany, a high school girl and as a result gets the license to unleash his true comic potential.


Director Jake Kasdan does well to tell us an entertaining tale from a nicely written screenplay by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinker. The visual effects are compelling and the usage of 3D is top notch. Henry Jackman’s music is good but there is not a single track that will stay with you after you leave the theatre.


Overall, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a satisfying sequel to the original that was immortalised by the great Robin Williams. It might not reach the benchmark created by the 1995 Joe Johnston film but it will not disappoint you either.


3.8 Stars Out of 5 from Me…

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