Jumanji: The Next Level. (12A.)
Directed by Jale Kasdan.
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Awkwafina, Danny Glover and Danny DeVito. 123 mins.
Calling the sequel to a live-action video game film The Next Level doesn't display much imagination. But the title is original in one sense: it is that rare post colon title declaration that keeps its promise. In almost every way this is the first film taken to the next level.
The Jumanji sequel strategy is adding new faces to the cast. This is often a risky move but what isn't going to be improved by the addition of the Dannys DeVito and Glover? Their time on screen is comparative limited but the influence of the two Dannys spreads across the whole film. In the original, the four faces of the poster campaign – Johnson, Gillan, Hart and Black – were the randomly assigned in-game avatars of a group of teenagers who had been sucked into the ancient and potentially deadly Jumanji video game. So the nerd kid became musclebound Johnson, etc, but the humour in these adult stars acting like teenagers didn't really have much traction. This time though the two pensioners are thrown into the mix. Johnson struggles a little to channel DeVito, but Hart's performance as Glover is inspired, surely the best comic acting he's ever done on screen.
There is another addition to the cast, Awkwafina, previously seen in The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians and Oceans 8, who plays an avatar called Ming. She was impressive as the lead in The Farewell but the part did seem tailored to her. Here though she has to go up against some major stars and make the most of limited screentime in a hectic Christmas Blockbuster and she more than holds her own. Her screen persona is unusual in being rooted in reticence and reserve, but often she is very reminiscent of Whoopi Goldberg, particularly in her early career when she wasn't so sure of her place on the screen.
I have to admit that I come to this film a little chastened. Two years ago I was very down on the first film, didn't get it at all. And then it went on to be cheerfully embraced by audiences and make $950,000,000 worldwide. I was clearly having an off night back then but, even so, this is definitely better than the first. The only gripe I have with it is that the finale takes place in a frozen landscape which requires the entirely gratuitous scene where Karen Gillan has to put some clothes on.
Directed by Jale Kasdan.
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Awkwafina, Danny Glover and Danny DeVito. 123 mins.
Calling the sequel to a live-action video game film The Next Level doesn't display much imagination. But the title is original in one sense: it is that rare post colon title declaration that keeps its promise. In almost every way this is the first film taken to the next level.
The Jumanji sequel strategy is adding new faces to the cast. This is often a risky move but what isn't going to be improved by the addition of the Dannys DeVito and Glover? Their time on screen is comparative limited but the influence of the two Dannys spreads across the whole film. In the original, the four faces of the poster campaign – Johnson, Gillan, Hart and Black – were the randomly assigned in-game avatars of a group of teenagers who had been sucked into the ancient and potentially deadly Jumanji video game. So the nerd kid became musclebound Johnson, etc, but the humour in these adult stars acting like teenagers didn't really have much traction. This time though the two pensioners are thrown into the mix. Johnson struggles a little to channel DeVito, but Hart's performance as Glover is inspired, surely the best comic acting he's ever done on screen.
There is another addition to the cast, Awkwafina, previously seen in The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians and Oceans 8, who plays an avatar called Ming. She was impressive as the lead in The Farewell but the part did seem tailored to her. Here though she has to go up against some major stars and make the most of limited screentime in a hectic Christmas Blockbuster and she more than holds her own. Her screen persona is unusual in being rooted in reticence and reserve, but often she is very reminiscent of Whoopi Goldberg, particularly in her early career when she wasn't so sure of her place on the screen.
I have to admit that I come to this film a little chastened. Two years ago I was very down on the first film, didn't get it at all. And then it went on to be cheerfully embraced by audiences and make $950,000,000 worldwide. I was clearly having an off night back then but, even so, this is definitely better than the first. The only gripe I have with it is that the finale takes place in a frozen landscape which requires the entirely gratuitous scene where Karen Gillan has to put some clothes on.
