Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle

This review may contain spoilers!

This film has the perfect blend of great casting, high stakes, well-built tension and side-splitting comedy. I would give Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle an 8.5/10.

The strength in this year has stemmed from the excellent family films and it's heartwarming to end the year with yet another one. Jumanji is a film that sets up four characters who you otherwise like or come to be invested in, the development around each of these four as they venture into the game is portrayed well. This feels like an adventure tale as close to the original Jumanji as the creators could possibly have gotten it; with high stakes planted throughout. Each of the actors is also able to hold their own when it comes to the feature's more comedic moments, making this a lot of fun. The cinematography looks great, with action scenes being well set up and dialogue scenes nicely framed. The special effects looked epic and solidified Jumanji as a setting; scenes with wildlife or the helicopter sequence really stood out. The score for the film adds a lot to various scenes, as well as the soundtrack and how 'dance fighting was incorporated into the narrative. The use of the Jumanji drum sound effects was a great point of attention to detail.

Dwayne Johnson, who played Dr Bravestone, made for an entertaining and convincing protagonist of the film; Johnson's portrayal of a cowardly, nerdy teenager was a nice change of pace from his standard roles. Kevin Hart, who played 'Mouse', was one of the more immediately comedic roles; Hart also had some great chemistry going with Johnson which made the conflict between the two interesting to watch. Karen Gillan, who played Ruby Roundhouse, really felt awkward, uncomfortable and at odds with many of the others in the cast at first and developed from that nicely; I enjoyed watching Gillan play a role who felt more self-assured and confident by her own merits as the film progressed. Rhys Darby, who played Nigel, was one of the most convincing main 'NPCs' within the film; Darby lends quite a theatrical telling of some of the key exposition in the film which makes it rather interesting and engaging to watch. Bobby Cannavale, who played Van Pelt, is quite an interesting and disconcerting villain; Cannavale enters the screen with such malice that you're immediately convinced he'll be a serious challenge for the protagonists. Nick Jonas, who played Alex, has the energetic mannerisms that give his role quite a bit of spirit within the film; Jonas is immediately likeable and has some great chemistry with Black throughout. Alex Wolff, who played Spencer, is a very meek leading protagonist who you can't help but feel sympathetic for; Wolff has quite the bumbling comedic persona which sets the tone well. Ser'Darius Blain, who played Fridge, is quite a disgruntled character who is socially separate from the rest of the younger cast; Blain has a very standoffish air to him which translates well to Hart's later performance. Madison Iseman, who played Bethany, really plays up on the popular self-absorbed teenager stereotype; Iseman does a great job of concluding her character as a more charismatic role by the film's end. Morgan Turner, who played Martha, plays her role's awkward traits and more abrasive ones equally well; Turner really connects with Wolff and the romance Johnson and Gillan start is concluded in a satisfying way come to the end of the film. Marc Evan Jackson, who played Principal Bentley, is quite a kindly authoritative figure in this feature; Jackson really lands the moral of the film in a way that is both engaging and succinct.

However, the best performance came from Jack Black, who played Professor Shelley. Black's performance is easily some of the best comedic acting within the film; showing a strong balance between playing a bit over the top or bringing it down for the more serious scenes. It's surprising how the role of Bethany which Iseman sets up is so easily picked up by Black, whether that be in movement and actions or dialogue choices. The friendly bond between Black and Gillan is quite nice and shows attention paid towards developing strong positive female roles working together. The chemistry between Black and Jonas is almost immediate as well, hinting at a romance and developing a bond that you can really appreciate as a viewer. Black affirms Bethany as a role who is useful, not just a generic popular girl and I think that speaks leagues for the film itself.

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle doesn't always know where exactly to land the comedy, throwing out some jokes that fail to land or come off as a little lowbrow in their execution. I also found the way the film laid out its own structure early on to be a strong failing, making the pacing and general storytelling quite predictable.