Movie Breakdown: Jumanji: The Next Level
Pre-Screening Ramble:
I still occasionally toss on Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle – it’s a really fun movie that’s much better than it has any right to be. I actually kind of wish Hollywood had left well enough alone, but I’d also be a lair if I said I wasn’t excited for another round of teenagers stuck in adult bodies that aren’t theirs.
Post-Screening Ramble:
If you asked me to rank them, I’d put Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle over Next Level, but it wouldn’t be by a whole lot. This is mainly because they’re pretty much the same film. People get pulled into Jumanji, then they have to complete an overarching task in order to be able to leave the game. Humor and action ensues along with a variety of very predictable plot points, and then everyone learns an important lesson about friendship. The end!
Now, while the overall story isn’t all that different, there are a couple of important distinctions between Next Level and its predecessor. The first is that the action is a lot bigger and more fun this time around, with two particular scenes, one with crazed ostriches and another with … crazed monkeys, that are as exciting as anything I’ve seen this year. The other difference, and this is the one that holds Next Level back a bit, is that it’s not quite as funny as the previous movie. Aside from Kevin Hart’s absolutely hilarious portrayal of Danny Glover as a slow-talking zoologist and Awkwafina’s weirdly natural turn as a certain someone (I won’t spoil it), the people-in-bodies-that-aren’t-theirs shtick doesn’t fly as high this time around. The Rock’s take on Danny Devito’s voice/accent is truly awful, Jack Black is given almost next to nothing to do as Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), and Karen Gillan retreads the same material. There’s also some bits (like the “smoldering intensity” thing) that are kind of lame and never really seem to land. Thankfully though, the movie has such a breakneck pace that when a joke misses, something flashy or genuinely humorous immediately happens and slaps a smile back on your face.
Next Level won’t be winning any awards and I won’t blame anyone who prefers to stan Welcome To The Jungle, but it is a good time. If you’re going to see it, make sure you do so in a theater.
One Last Thought:
Bebe Neuwirth (Lilith from Cheers and Frasier) makes a very, very small appearance in this movie, and I nearly jumped out of my seat when I realized it was her. I’d really love to see her in more stuff.
