K.T Simpson
Let’s acknowledge that Jake Kasden missed a prime opportunity to continue with a Guns n Roses theme and name this sequel something like “Jumanji: Paradise City”, but I guess “The Next Level” makes more sense than a pathetic pun.
With that out of the way, let’s talk about “The Next Level”, which acts as the third film in the “Jumanji” franchise – with 1995’s “Jumanji” acknowledged as the original (and the best).
2017’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” was a surprise hit, with Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan forming an excellent comedic foursome. “Jumanji: The Next Level” picks up 3 years following “Welcome to the Jungle”, with Spencer (Alex Wolff), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), Martha (Morgan Turner), and Bethany (Madison Iseman) having gone their separate ways in life – despite the bond they all formed in the game. Spencer in particular is struggling with his breakup from Martha, and he looks to the Jumanji game again to get him out of his slump – with his previous avatar Dr. Smolder Bravestone helping him cope with anxiety and social awkwardness.
When Fridge, Martha and Bethany realise Spencer’s absence from the real world, they head to his house and discover Jumanji has been pulled out of the trash and that they may have to re-enter the game to save Spencer.
Meanwhile, Spencer’s grandfather Eddie (Danny DeVito), who is staying at the family home recovering from surgery, has his own issues going on when old friend Milo (Danny Glover) shows up looking to rekindle their friendship.
When the three teens decide to head back into Jumanji, the broken game leaves Bethany behind, and sucks Milo and Eddie into the game as two of the avatars.
With Eddie as Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Johnson), Milo as Franklin “Mouse” Finbar (Hart), Fridge as Professor Sheldon “Shelly” Oberon (Jack Black) and Martha as Ruby Roundhouse (Gillan), the foursome have to get used to new avatars and work out where (and who) Spencer is. Of course with that comes a new challenge to complete, set again by Nigel Billingsley (Rhys Darby).
“The Next Level” is a decent follow-up to “Welcome to the Jungle”, bringing plenty of humour, which is largely thanks to Johnson, Hart and Black acting with the personalities of people completely different to them. It was the key appeal to the 2nd film, and is the reason you’ll laugh through this one. Key cast aside, DeVito is a standout, despite not being in the majority of the film – but every moment he is, he delivers a great performance, but you’d expect nothing less from DeVito. Similarly, Glover’s chemistry with DeVito is fabulous and they both play the old cranky men to perfection.
While amusing, “The Next Level” is not much more – the storyline is essentially the same as the first, just seeing Spencer address more of his real-life problems and looking for an easy escape from the real world. It’s not a story any of us are unfamiliar with, but if there’s a fourth “Jumanji”, Kasdan will have to shake things up a bit so it’s not just the same-old same-old.
Why should you see “The Next Level”? – it’s an easy 2 hours of laughs, and adventure, that will hopefully also remove you from the real-world – but with fewer ostriches and no lives lost during that time.
3.5/5 stars
