Level Up.
123 Mins. Starring: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Colin Hanks, Rhys Darby, Danny Glover & Danny DeVito. Director: Jake Kasdan.
Shall we play another game? Or are you bored? No way! Between The Rock and a Hart place again, the 'Central Intelligence' chemistry set of Dwayne Johnson and a Kevin smaller than the one that gets left home for the holidays is back for another roll of the dice. Or should we say thumb of the joystick? As after dusting off the 1995 Robin Williams classic 'Jumanji', just when you thought no one could play with that genius genie like an actually animated Will Smith in this year's live action 'Aladdin' remake, the 'Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle' reboot (if you're going to name a jungle book like movie you may aswell name it after a Guns N Roses hit) flipped the 90's golden era board game to a video one for the iPhone and iPad, swipe left generation. And it was a genius, meta magic movie (not like other reboot franchises as self aware as salad in your teeth), albeit more like a cheat code than a chess one. But still more of an actual sequel than reboot, or the 'Zathura: A Space Adventure' spin-off from the same world of Chris Van Allsburg children books. Even paying tribute to the late, great Robin like his last appearance in the 'Night Of The Museum' trilogy that like a 'National Treasure' shares CGI DNA with this franchise. 'Welcome To The Jungle' was all laugh and cry, hilarious and heartfelt fun and games. Even if this writer clearly playing with himself (wait...no...not like that) only watched this movie last week...not having long to wait for his new favourite fantasy franchise with this family film and holiday movie. And now with this welcome back to the jungle of the same forest 'Jurassic Park' was filmed (but this time it's ostriches that are flocking this way), the cartridge is slot back in the console again for your bonus round, 'Jumanji: The Next Level'. Continue? 9...8...7...6...
Dum-dum-dum-dum (no not Dum Dum off 'Night At The Museum). Jungle drum roll please. Choose your Avatar like James Cameron finally getting round to all those sequels. First you have what The Rock is cooking...or smouldering (*shudders*...in a good way. Not the way women do when I ask them out). And the animal 'Rampage' of 'Skyscraper' high star and the next Schwarzenegger last action hero for what like the string vest of 'Die Hard' is a Christmas movie home for the holidays, Dwayne Johnson is yet again having the year of his life. As the 'Fast and Furious' star has his own new franchise vehicle 'Hobbs and Shaw' with the 'Meg' of Jason Statham in the same spin-off lane. And with his own 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island' sequel, 'Hercules' action Johnson, 'Baywatch' reboot lifeguard and forthcoming DC 'Black Adam' superhero is at his best yet on-screen. Forget "merely" being the most marketable. Sending up himself and everything else to hilarious effect. All whilst kicking ass in a family friendly, funny way that gives everyone three lives and full health bars again...no matter how many walls they get Superman thrown through. This mountain of a man and titan of a talent and this sequel could even go to war with 'The Rise Of Skywalker' this Christmas, beating 'Star Wars' like the Disney + of 'The Mandalorian' series (and they didn't even need a Baby Yoda to do it...just a lil' Kev) with a movie that is as December 25th as the string vest of original action man Bruce Willis' 'Die Hard'...with a vengeance. But like Samuel L. Jackson in that classic sequel this thing works best as a two player with the 'Ride Along' of the charismatic chemistry of 'Central Intelligence' and 'Hobbs and Shaw' (we can say that now right?) co-star Kevin Hart as they spit at each other like the camels they "let's ride". Call him irresponsible, but the 'Seriously Funny' stand-up (even if it is on a stool) Netflix king of comedy is as hilarious as ever...and again then some. Blowing up as he has his cake and eats it. Coming back from defying death in a car accident to breathing new life into this sequel. Because the real treat and trick of this movie is all in the character selection as this 'Next Level' has you switching avatars like when you used to try and play like you where 6'11 with cornrows and not 120 pounds and thinning follically when you used to be able to create your own player in NBA Live (it is NOT in the game)...no? Just me? As the 'Lethal Weapon' and 'Twins' of respective Hollywood legends Danny Glover (never too old for this s###) and Danny DeVito (please say he's in 'Space Jam 2' LeBron) get their hands on some controllers too. The Danny boys giving the heart and soul to a film and franchise that knows how to play with our emotions, but genuinely so (it hasn't been this fun and warm for the elder statesmen since the geriatric hangover of 'Last Vegas'). Plus The Rock's hard of hearing place and a slow to a syrupy crawl Kevin Hart's impressions of DeVito and Glover with respect are as iconic as they are inspired. Quit playing now.
Gamers hold on to your joysticks as there's more character switching than Tekken for this immortal Kombat. Which shows just how crack this class cast are the second go round at playing each other and chest thumping reading their strengths and weaknesses like a digital book for this body swapping classic comedy schtick. There's more to this movie just like there are to the "human" characters of Alex Wolff (so much nicer than he was in 'Patriots Day'...but what a performance), the 'Wonderstruck' Morgan Turner, the Fridge built Ser'Darius Blain and the Jack White 'Goosebumps' of Madison Iseman who are more than the humanity, but the touching soul of this handle. But leave the ass kicking to the Nebula of 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' (still hearing her anti-hero voice for the most complex Marvel Cinematic Universe character is chilling) and 'Doctor Who' star Karen Gillan who "ooooh baby I love the way" is no one's sidekick or bare midriff stereotype, but one of the best and brightest of this generations role models and own individual talents. She and 'School Of Rock' legend Jack Black, back on that Tenacious D form of his life. Rocking like his White Yin/Yang namesake. Reuniting with 'Orange County' dynamo director Jake Kasdan (the Cameron classic 'Bad Teacher' and 'Sex Tape' Diaz) and Oh.my.god.so.funny.as.a.teenage.girl.and.anyone.else.he.gets.to.impersonate.like.seriously steal the show. That is when a welcome back Nick Jonas isn't making you 'Jealous' like his infectious single or the "if the Jonas brothers can make a comeback so can your hairline" Twitter trend (I wish). Or a Black Beauty of a horse isn't galloping away with said show like Pegasus. And we haven't even got into how good rapper slash actor, 'Crazy Rich Asians', 'Oceans 8' and forthcoming 'Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings' Marvel Awkwafina is...she's amazing, especially in switching characters and portraying their characteristics perfectly...oh and the comedy great is probably on her way to her first dramatic acting Oscar for her 'Farewell'. All this and the cut sequence of 'Yes Man' scene stealer Rhys Darby is back to introduce you to the game my fond friends. All this and the cut sequence of 'Yes Man' scene stealer Rhys Darby is back to introduce you to the game my fond friends. All this and th...you get the idea. And then of course there's Colin Hanks who brought happy tears and a baby stroller to the end of the first film. The son yet again proving to be his own man for this beautiful day in a New Hampshire white picket fence neighbourhood as American as Rita Wilson or the SNL sweater crowned "America's dad" leaving apple pie on the window sill to cool...if anyone even does that anymore. All for the Canadian rocky landscape to John Wick 'Parabellum' desert of kinetic, boss level action of Ostriches flocking this way and 'Ad Astra' Mandrills on 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' rope ladders for a game that has to be turned into an interactive theme park ride one day. And even though the characters vow to never go back to this game again like you promise to your girlfriend after the fifth FIFA match, some post credits that even look to take a running start at the old 'Jumanji' game platform plays you trilogy different. They've all got the credits. Why not press go now? And at this point, winner stays on we can't wait for another turn. Play again? JUMANJI! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle', 'Central Intelligence', 'Night At The Museum'.
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