Big Icons, Bigger Adventure: The Jumanji Formula Evolves
Sequels are tricky—you either coast on the shadow of the original or risk spinning out with too many new ideas. Jumanji: The Next Level doesn’t play it safe, opting instead for louder laughs, taller stunts, and a wider playground. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan slip back into their digital avatars, but the game’s been rebooted yet again, dropping them into fresh dangers and bigger worlds. This time, the crew is joined by Awkwafina, who brings a playful twist, and Nick Jonas, who returns to up the stakes.
This new chapter twists the body-swap premise even further—some characters end up as avatars that don’t match their personalities at all, poking fun at their own screen personas. Johnson gets to play an elderly curmudgeon, while Hart dials down his usual hyper energy to channel a slow-talking grandfather type. These switches spark sharp gags and give the actors room to show off in totally unexpected ways. Jack Black deserves credit too, as he continues to nail his chameleon-like comedic timing, winning genuine laughter with each confused reaction.
Bold Moves, Blockbuster Payoff
The film’s ambition is clear from the visuals alone. Cinematographer Gyula Pados crafts a game world bursting with color, from sun-drenched desert chases to icy mountain escapes. The action set pieces feel straight out of the most chaotic video games—wild, cleverly choreographed, and just bonkers enough. Henry Jackman’s score pulses with adventure while Bill Brzeski’s production design builds layers of fantasy and danger into every set. It’s pure popcorn spectacle, and the special effects land better than many recent blockbusters.
Story-wise, though, not everyone’s buying in. While the first reboot worked thanks to a simple structure, this sequel adds more rules, more subplots, and more background lore. At points, it feels like the characters (and the audience) are scrambling to keep up. Critics have pointed out that this complexity muddies the pacing and sometimes stalls the fun with extra exposition.
Despite that, it’s the chemistry among the cast and their comic timing that rescues the day. Johnson’s muscular self-parody, Hart’s deadpan, and Black’s wild-card humor create a riot of moments that connect with fans of all ages. Karen Gillan isn’t just a sidekick—her action chops and wit ground the group when the frenzy threatens to go off the rails. Awkwafina slides comfortably into the crew, snapping off zingers and handling the physical gags with natural charm.
On the money side, the movie pulled in $312 million worldwide—not quite enough to topple animated juggernauts like Frozen 2 or Disney’s Star Wars finale, but still a healthy score for a comedic action flick. It grabbed a decent 3/5 star review from Indian outlets like NDTV, and the Rotten Tomatoes page calls out both its dizzying pace and infectious energy.
For anyone looking for a family-friendly blockbuster that doesn’t mind poking fun at itself, Jumanji: The Next Level is an easy pick. The big-box franchises may have outgrossed it, but few have delivered this much fun from a mismatched group facing digital disaster at every turn.