Jumanji: The Next Level

The most tiresome and in all aspects most unnecessary sequel to an already mediocre first film in a long time. That the script doesn’t work is perhaps obvious to everyone in this mindless, plastic piece of entertainment. But that even the visuals, the pacing and the directorial ideas don’t work, either, that is unexpected. Major dud. The usually charismatic and muscular The Rock doesn't help either, nor does The Hound, who took on another wild role with gusto after GoT. (2019-12-15)

DeVito’s Rock is excellent, better than the last one. Jack Black enjoys his role as a loudmouthed, racist black guy and the rest of them are just OK. The action scenes are inventive, especially the on in the desert and the climax with the airship. The end returns to the original plot from the first film, sowing the seeds for another sequel, but I’m not sure if they’ll be able to convince the main stars to do it. (2020-03-21)

Jumanji: The Next Level builds on the elements that worked in the first, adding a duo of sclerotic old men with one foot in the grave and a host of new locations and characters from that world. Even though almost the entire film takes place in a game world where practically anything is possible, I found it all to be pretty predictable. Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart's geriatric allusions and demeanor worked on the whole, and for the most part they managed to faithfully capture their generations-older counterparts. The film has a somewhat slower pace, there is a bit too much talking at times, and it perhaps plays on emotions a bit too blatantly at the end, but I still don't regret going to the cinema, as it is a briskly made sequel with plenty of action and more than one humorous scene. (2019-12-08)

We are on the same track as two years ago with lots of adventure, some humour and overall a relaxing film for the whole family. Unfortunately though, it plays by slightly different rules, with the characters switching avatars, and it turns out that Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart may be likeable, but they don't pull off everything as well as they should. Still, this sequel is fine harmless fun for the whole family that doesn't put the first film to shame. (2019-12-07)

A big step backwards compared to the previous part. Jake Kasdan ruined the film by a bad decision, when he changed the characters, which significantly reduced the humour (Bethany in Jack Black’s body was perfect and it was a sin to change that), and the tasks are also significantly less interesting than last time. Apart from the ostriches and monkeys, there wasn't much of anything proper. The finale is quite nicely action-packed, but I suffered quite a bit in the cinema and was looking forward to going home. Three stars by grace, but only by a whisker. 5/10. (2020-01-09)