Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle (film): Reasonably entertaining

gooddream (82) in getyerlearnon • 7 years ago

Let's just say that this movie surpassed my expectations; that being, i didn't really have many walking into it. I kind of expected to not enjoy it to be honest. It is a movie with the Rock in it and was bound to be a mega money-maker because anything that man touches these days seems to turn to piles of cash.

The film actually started out much better than I had anticipated.

The 4 kids that are the main characters all attend the same school and ended up in detention together and this is where they encounter the video game console that just happens to have 4 controllers, one for each of the kids.

They choose characters and it is actually pretty funny the transformation that happens - especially the pretty girl that ends up being Jack Black. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses just like a multiplayer RPG would have and them figuring out these abilities is amusing in itself.

jumanji-welcome-to-the-jungle-trailer-reaction-video-cinemacon-2017-social-e1513784272675.jpg

I actually enjoyed the fact that the new Jumaji child-trap was in the form of a video game and had many elements associated with games such as none of the NPC's being able to have a real conversation outside of their programmed dialogue.

The action is pretty decent and the moments of comedy are pretty nicely dispersed between the action sequences. Now I won't go through my usual gripes about physical impossibilities in movies because they are inside a video game and therefore the physics of the outside world do not apply. The story is extremely predictable but well, it's an action movie with the Rock, I wasn't exactly expecting any sort of award-winning story.

One downside is that the shtick kinda wears off pretty fast and I found myself, towards the end, just wanting them to get on with it already.

This movie ended up making nearly a billion dollars so I think you could consider it a success in the eyes of the studios. I am sure a lot of kids really enjoyed this, and I don't recall a single moment that would be considered even mildly inappropriate.

I actually enjoyed it more than the first Jumaji because the characters went into the Jumaji world, instead of it taking over their world inside of their house. This was an aspect of the first one that I didn't much care for.

7 / 10

getyerlearnon

7 years ago by gooddream (82)

$65.51

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kwadjobonsu (66) · 7 years ago

Reboots can be tricky. While some click, most of them crumble under the pressure to shake off the barrage of comparisons that would be thrown at the movie. Last couple of years saw such horrible reboots like Jurassic World, The Mummy, Kong: Skull Island. But much like Spiderman: Homecoming, Jumanji succeeds to impress the viewers. Jumanji gets a modern age makeover where now instead of a board game it is a video game. Four teenagers with varying personalities are put together in a detention. Here they discover the Jumanji video game and enter the world of Jumanji as their avatars. Then starts the fun ride. There are enough plot holes like how did the video game end up in a high school from Alex's freak house. The movie uses time tested cliche - Four teenagers with some flaw realize their shortcomings when (literally) seen from some other's point of view. But the fun parts of the movie makes us forget them, at least till the movie ends. The bigger plus for the movie has been the performance of the lead actors. All of them have created niche for themselves in the film industry. Jumanji has used such niche beautifully and built very funny characters. Parts where Dwayne Johnson(Spencer) stops to admire his own physique will have you in splits. Not to mention his hilarious display of 'smoldering intensity'. Kevin Hart is Kevin Hart and Jack Blake as a women in a man's body is perfect. Karen Gillan, who is this mean Nebula in MCU, comes up with a very charming performance.

All in all, Jumanji is a movie that you can watch without any regret. It will make you gasp, wonder and laugh hysterically. It is definitely worth a watch.

$0.56

3 votes

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rodneysreviews (52) · 7 years ago

Yeah, loved this movie. Fun from start to finish.

The ensemble is perfectly balanced. Who wouldn't want to see Kevin Hart shocked at his own small stature, pretending the only reason he won't rescue someone is cos you can't take a backpack in the water? Who wouldn't want Jack Black to be a teenage girl, discovering her fat male body for the first time, as well as giving Jack Black a meta chance to mock his own body shape? Who wouldn't want The Rock to secretly be a coward, with the super power of "smoldering?" And who wouldn't want to see Dr. Who's sidekick, Karen Gillan, be so geeky she doesn't know how to act feminine? So many comedy set-ups going on at once here, and nearly all the jokes hit bullseye!

Meanwhile, you get plenty of great action, all the time, with the kind of entertaining video-game fun, whereby someone has three lives and then they're dead, that you wished you could have got from "Ready Player One," but kind of couldn't, because that movie took itself way too seriously!

I miss Robin Williams so much, but you gotta give it to this team and this ensemble, they capture his anarchic wacky spirit, and package one hell of a fun funny entertaining thrillride of a mvie. More please. :)

$0.54

1 vote

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iamevilradio (60) · 7 years ago (edited)

This movie was also better than I expected and a fun way to pass an afternoon, but not great by any means. The characters were pretty broadly written and it felt like most of the time Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and The Rock were just playing themselves (particularly Kevin Hart). Still, they have a lot of charisma and it carries the film. The over reliance on deus ex machina soured things for me, particularly when Jack Black discovers an unlikely game mechanic to save Nick Jonas randomly. While their weaknesses were funny, it also struck me as a mechanic that pulled me out of the concept as no designer would even design a game that way (particularly with the cake scene, as funny as it was). Overall it had me pulled by my desire for commitment more realistic videogame clichés and sometimes I could just give into the humor of the premise and just enjoy it. Maybe I'm over thinking it but the inconsistent video game dynamics took me out of the fun at times. Overall a fun film. Not going to change my life but a lighthearted way to spend an afternoon.

$0.35

1 vote

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gooddream (82) · 7 years ago

I hadn't thought of that in depth where Jack Black accidentally discovers a way to give away a life. Yeah, i agree with pretty much everything you said there.

$0.00

1 vote

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aydogdy (57) · 7 years ago

It was not usual to watch the acting of Dwayne Johnson. This is his first Comedy role, performed in this manner and I must say, he performed it very well. Kevin Hart is a very good, charismatic Comedy actor. He has already played in a duet with Dwayne Johnson in the film "spy and a Half", and I would like to note that as in this film, they interact well in the film "Jumanji". Jack black, as always showed himself in all its glory, but it was a very unusual and unexpected transformation, which added to the film even more comedic and emotional contrast. Karen Gillan is a very attractive and charming actress. Her character demonstrates that the main thing in people is not the appearance, but the inner content of each person and his actions towards other people. The presence of high-quality, good humor allows viewers to know themselves in the characters and laugh heartily, including over themselves. Of course, do not compare this film with the film of 1995. This is a completely different, new story that will appeal to viewers of all ages.

$0.21

1 vote

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zam398 (56) · 7 years ago (edited)

Entertainment at its finest

What a coincidence, earlier today I watched the film and I'm very happy with it, the plot is very relatable and unique When four high-school kids discover an old video game console with a game they've never heard of--Jumanji--they are immediately drawn into the game's jungle setting, literally becoming the avatars they chose:
The actors were great Dwayne Johnson is without a doubt a veteran in action film and the supporting crew were also very commendable. In the name of Karen Gillan and Jack Black respectively. There were lesson to learn from itThe movie has amusingly broad performances; good, bloodless scares ... and self-empowering life lessons too bland to be specious, the characters were put in a difficult situations something all of us are experiencing at some point of our life. The movie shows the strength , team work and hardwork as the key to success whatever road we are going through.

On the other side, these are the few things the film is lacking: the depth of the film , the balance of scenarios with most of the narrative lacks any character development, relying on obstacles, chases, and the threat of elimination.
But the Hawaii Cinematography saves the day! the view and the great location of the film is joy to the eyes. Plus expanding the world of a concept is great!

So if you're lonely I highly recommend this one,it's enjoyable, full of new ideas purely entertainment.
7.5/10

$0.19

2 votes

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kamrankhan900 (48) · 7 years ago

Whoa jumanji returns with an even good story. First of all i also enjoyed the fact that the characters went into the jumanji world instead of them taking over ours. I kinda expected it to be superstitious and fully fiction(though it is fiction) but inside a game that doesnt bother much. Its strange how the characters transformed. However it includes Rock so no doubt this is worth billions. Award winning story. Loved it.

$0.12

1 vote

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arslanyasir (46) · 7 years ago

i am mesmerized seeing ROCK & Kevin in the poster...... A great review.... Well Done..

$0.08

2 votes

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adnan556644 (64) · 7 years ago

Nice review from you about JUMANJI.
Like you, I also expected more entertainment from Jumanji because of ROCK & Kevin, but it couldn't touch my expectations.
Similar case was with the Rampage.

$0.08

1 vote

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malpica1 (56) · 7 years ago

Personally I did not like it, really horrible ... I preferred another saga as the first leaving always the mystery of where the creature came from or a story of alan in jumanji .... but good greetings and my respect my support with my humble vote.

$0.08

1 vote

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coolguy222 (68) · 7 years ago

Jumanji is a great movie. I saw this movie some days ago. It's really a good movie.special for kids. It's also special because it achieved it's financial goal and earn a lot of money.

$0.06

2 votes

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ikar59 (54) · 7 years ago

Although this movie came up on december I watched it last month. As you, I had no expectations but I ended enjoying it. It was a fun and entertaining film. It was financially successful and they are already talking about a sequel.