jumanji christian movie review

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• DVD & Streaming

Jumanji: The Next Level

• Action/Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

• December 13, 2019
• Karen Gillan as Ruby Roundhouse; Dwayne Johnson as Dr. Smoulder Bravestone; Kevin Hart as Mouse Finbar; Jack Black as Sheldon Oberon; Danny DeVito as Grandpa Eddie; Danny Glover as Milo; Rory McCann as Jurgen the Brutal; Alex Wolff as Spencer

Home Release Date

• March 17, 2020
• Jake Kasdan

Distributor

• Columbia Pictures

Movie Review

Getting sucked into a magical video game and nearly dying has a way of changing you. It certainly did for Spencer and his friends. It made this quartet of completely disparate teens— super-jock Fridge, cool-girl Bethany, geeky Spencer and brainiac Martha— friends , for one thing.

Time, though, can change things, too. In the two years since their death-defying experience (in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ), they’ve all gone their separate ways. And they really haven’t stayed in close contact, as they had thought they would. Even Spencer and Martha—the two who came out of the game as a definite couple—have sorta drifted apart as of late.

So, when Spencer heads home to meet up with his pals over Christmas break from the NYC university he’s now attending, he’s feeling a bit less excited than he expected. He’s actually feeling like something of a loser: kinda like he used to feel when they were all together in high school together.

That’s apparently why he digs the pieces of the smashed up Jumanji video game console out of a box in his basement. It’s crazy, in light of all that happened before. But Spencer longs for the thrill of playing his heroic in-game avatar, Dr. Smoulder Bravestone.

Before you can say, What are you thinking!? , Spencer and his pals are once again sucked into the dangerous video game world of Jumanji. Only this time, Spencer’s octogenarian Grandpa Eddie gets pulled into the story, too. Oh, and Grandpa Eddie hits the digital ground running in the role of the hero, Bravestone, instead of Spencer.

Which raises the important question: Can a hero be incredibly muscular … and crotchety?

Positive Elements

Spencer’s grandfather, Eddie, and his former business partner and best friend, Milo, are both pulled into the world of Jumanji along with the younger folks. At first, the two are at odds with each due to an unresolved conflict from years before. But as the Jumanji adventure unfolds, they gradually realize how much their friendship means to them, and they both ask for forgiveness for things they said in anger over the years.

In fact, the belligerent Eddie eventually softens to the point of getting sentimental and telling his friend, “Being your friend and partner was one of the best things I ever got to be.” Milo also expresses his heartfelt feelings, adding, “When you’re scared and insecure, that’s when you need your people the most.”

That moment of reconciliation also changes Grandpa Eddie’s attitude about life. Early on, he limps around with his bad hip and grouses crudely, “Getting old sucks!” But after reconciling with his friend, talking through their past together and surviving the dangerous video game journey, Eddie tells Spencer: “Getting old is a gift. I forget that sometimes, but it is. What more could a guy possibly want?”

In like manner, Spencer’s attitude about his life improves, too. He and his friends all rally together, rely on one another, and unanimously voice their devotion. And, of course, they repeatedly put their lives on the line to save each other (and the land of Jumanji) as well.

Spiritual Elements

The Jumanji game is imbued with unexplained magic. Even though it starts out as a pile of smashed pieces, there’s still a mystical spark that draws the players into its world.

This time, however, the game’s former jungle locales are replaced with a variety of spots ranging from dune-covered deserts to snowy mountaintops. The players’ main quest is to break a withering, famine-like curse that beset the land after a nefarious villain stole a powerful ancient jewel.

Spencer and the gang also come across magical waters that allow the players to switch back and forth between the different in-game characters. And there’s a horse character in the mix this time around as well, just to mix things up a bit further.

Like the first film, it’s clear that each character has three videogame lives. Life gauges, represented by hashmark tattoos on their arms, decrease in number each time they are killed in the game. After each “death” they disappear, and an unharmed version of their avatar regenerates and drops from the sky.

Sexual & romantic Content

As was the case in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Martha plays as an acrobatic female warrior named Ruby Roundhouse. Ruby wears a shorts-and-croptop outfit, à la Lara Croft, that exposes quite a bit of her muscular form. And the camera doesn’t shy away from gazing at her, either.

Smoulder Bravestone is also quite muscular. (He’s controlled most of the time by either Grandpa Eddie or Spencer.) The character kisses Ruby passionately at one point as well as another female dressed in a form-fitting, low-cut outfit. In fact, when kissing that latter woman (as he’s being controlled by Grandpa Eddie) Bravestone compels her to kiss him passionately over and over.

Through the magical water’s body-swap properties, Fridge has a short stretch controlling Ruby, too. He marvels at the avatar’s body and reports that the first thing he did upon taking control was to quickly touch her “boobs.” A female character who ends up embodying a male likewise bends over to look at his (clothed) crotch. There’s also a slight wink made toward gender swapping in general. A crude joke is made about a horse’s genital size and another character’s lack in that department.

Though the movie doesn’t ever talk about gender fluidity in the way that our culture often embraces that idea, the constant back-and-forth movement of male characters into female bodies (and vice versa) potentially reinforces that idea in a subtle way.

Violent Content

The world of Jumanji is staged as an action-adventure/fantasy game, so there are many thumping, pummeling fights, shootings and explosions that unfold during the heroes’ adventure. We also learn that each character has his or her own strengths and weaknesses.

Dr. Bravestone, for instance, is incredibly strong and at one point takes on scores of attackers, slamming them with mighty blows and driving marauding minions into and through walls with just his fists. Also, when an avatar is defeated, he or she explodes in a red-tinged splash. We see all the heroes die in that manner (repeatedly, too) courtesy of a wide variety of attacks. Some are pecked at and killed by large ostriches (which are portrayed almost like feathered velociraptors). The heroes are also beaten and bitten by throngs of screeching mandrill monkeys in an extended scene that could be quite scary for young or sensitive viewers.

People get hit with axes and blown up by a rocket launcher missile. Others fall from great heights and are crushed by huge boulders. Cars crash and crumple. Someone is nearly swallowed whole by a giant python, and a man barely misses being chomped by a charging hippo. And a couple of them are threatened with a machete before the camera cuts away.

The villain, Jurgen the Brutal, is a super-powerful individual who even slams Dr, Bravestone around. We’re told how murderous and terrible he is, and we see him toss bloody chunks of meat to his pet hyenas—flesh that we’re told came from a man he killed.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear a surprising 15 misuses of God and Jesus’ names (combined), including a whopping eight pairings of God’s name with “d–n.” There are also two or three uses of the s-word, a stand-in for the f-word, some 15 uses of “h—,” and a handful of uses each of “b–tard,” “a–,” d–n,” and “b–ch.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

We see Spencer inhale multiple puffs from an inhaler for his asthma in a stressful moment.

Other noteworthy Elements

Grandpa Eddie points out that young Spencer only has a steady physical and emotional decline in front of him.

It’s easy and, quite frankly, fair to think of this latest Jumanji pic as a more-of-the-same sequel. If anything, it leaps into the sucked-into-a-video-game action of the previous movie much more quickly this go ‘round. And it offers up even more of the more you’d expect.

On the positive side of the ledger, that equals an abundance of Indiana Jones-like rolling-boulder, thump-and-tumble, slapstick action. And along with a pumped-up cast list full of likeable characters, there are even more funny and sweet moments, as well as some nice lessons about the value of friends, the need for forgiveness and the quiet glory of growing old.

But here’s the problem: This film feels anything but appropriate for families of young kids—the very audience you’d assume it’s made for. The language here is so foul and profane, it feels almost shocking. And the deadly looking action will certainly leave younger family members ducking for cover.

In fact, you could think of Jumanji: The Next Level as something akin to owning a family monkey. I mean, the idea seems rollicking and fun. But if you actually unleashed a screeching mandrill monkey in your family room, you’d be heading for an exit, tout suite .

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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Reviewed by: Samuel A. Torcasio CONTRIBUTOR

Story of a 19 year old boy who lives for basketball and video games

A year out of high school, he still has no job, no plans, and no idea how to be a man.

A mother futilely tries to call out THE MAN in her son

How does a boy become a man, especially when his father has abandoned him?

Learning to make better life decisions

The importance of becoming a true follower of Jesus Christ

Christian DISCIPLESHIP MATTERS / mentoring

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit , and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” — Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

We all need someone who believes in us.

Importance of giving up our selfishness and foolish pride

For a follower of Christ, what is love —a feeling, an emotion, or an action?

When we follow Jesus , He bears fruit through us.

What advice do you have for new and growing Christians ?

Importance of prayer support

Are you willing to go the extra mile?

What are goodness and righteousness ?

What are good works and what is their reward?

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him (Lam. 3:25)

What is holiness and why are we to pursue it? Answer

A broken and unforgiving relationship with one’s father

“Don’t be a drain, be a fountain.”

T he latest entry from the Kendrick Brothers is one of the best to date. This film develops the theme of discipleship and what that looks like in the life of a new believer . Matters such as responsibility, authority, prayer , and giving things up for the sake of the Lord are addressed in this movie and presented well and with conviction.

All of the cast does an excellent job, and there were appreciated moments of humor.

This review won’t give away much as regards to the plot, but we do want to note that this is a spin-off of the movie “ War Room ,” so those who have seen that film will be delighted to see the return of some beloved characters. The “ War Room ” characters do not dominate this film—it is not after all a direct sequel. The writers gave them just enough of a presence, but not enough to overshadow the main characters of this film.

The story follows a young man named Isaiah who is angry, lost, hurt, and confused. He meets a man named Joshua who takes him under his wing, leads him to faith in Christ , and disciples him. This film presents the gospel at various points, including Isaiah reading the Romans Road on screen.

Then the film really focuses in on what the Christian life looks like after one has come to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation . Joshua mentions to Isaiah that discipleship has a cost, and that very few want it. There is definitely a particular challenge that Isaiah has to overcome after he becomes a believer, and it has to do with forgiveness. It is handled really well.

The discipleship focus centers in on a men’s fellowship called The Forge, from which the movie gets its name. It’s a group committed to discipleship. The movie makes clear that all the men of this fellowship have someone they are discipling, and though Joshua is Isaiah’s main discipler, all the men play a role in encouraging him to grow in the Lord. “The Forge” highlights the importance of men discipling men. Joshua and the other men are invested in Isaiah’s spiritual growth, and we need to see more of that in our churches.

I was also happy to see that the theme of discipleship is developed within the context of the local church. Isaiah, at the beginning of the film, before he is a believer, says that he doesn’t have a need for church . Joshua, the character doing the discipling, belongs to a church. Early in the film we see Joshua bringing Isaiah to a church outreach event, and after Isaiah gets saved, we see him get baptized. It is important to highlight this because the discipleship process must involve connection to a local church.

We also see how Isaiah’s discipleship makes a difference in his work ethic. There are many practical lessons in this film including one on the importance of being on time. Joshua tells Isaiah that he needs to be a fountain and not a drain. The idea being to give more to others, rather than taking. Along those lines, he encourages him to treat others the way he wants to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

Another important theme is prayer , which picks up on the main theme of “ War Room .” One of the characters at one point says, “You can’t treat prayer like it’s some spare tire.” She also encourages the other characters to start prayer by “praising the Lord for who He is.”

There is a scene of Isaiah having personal prayer time in his room, and it is one of the most realistic and moving prayer scenes I have viewed on screen.

At some points it may seem like Isaiah is yelling at the Lord. This could have been his passion in the moment. And while we must always approach the Lord our God with reverence and respect, we can also be honest and know He understands our passions and struggles. Many of the Psalms model this for us. So, while I can’t know exactly what was intended to be going through the character’s minds, we understand that like all of us he is a flawed and fragile human being.

What was most certainly conveyed was his brokenness in the moment. Isaiah’s prayer is heartfelt and his love for the Lord is apparent.

Answered prayer in particular is a theme in this film, and indeed answers to prayer are a reality in the believer’s life. Some may argue that the film could give the impression that prayers are always answered the way we expect. I don’t know that this is necessarily a fault in the movie, simply because of the fact that this is a movie, and it cannot portray everything in a perfectly corresponding way to real life. I believe that the Bible teaches God answers prayer (John 15:16), and I have also have personally experienced it.

Further, it is certainly good to encourage believers to pray by pointing to answered requests, but at the same time it is worth noting there is much more to learn about prayer. Some prayers are not answered immediately, and we must wait for extended periods on the Lord (Psalm 13). Sometimes our prayers are not aligned with God’s will, and the answer is no. Sometimes the answer is different than what we expected. We also have to allow for misunderstandings on our own part. The more we know God’s will in His Word , the more we will know what to pray and will see answers (John 15:7). But even then, it is always subject to God’s timing, not ours. These are all important things to keep in mind about prayer .

Another matter to note is that the film talks about the “ sinful-nature ” which is a translation of a Greek word which literally means “ flesh .” There is debate over whether sinful nature is an accurate translation. “Flesh” can be used in many senses, but one of those senses refers to the sinful part of believer. It is used this way in Galatians 5:13. More literal translations simply translate this as flesh . The flesh is that sinful part of the believer that fights against the Holy Spirit working in the believer (Galatians 5:16-26). Every believer has this battle, and victory comes only through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 7:24-25; Galatians 2:20).

There was one possible misuse of the Lord’s name noticed.

Overall, this is a highly enjoyable and impactful film. My wife and I found ourselves thinking about it for days after. Personally, I was both challenged and motivated by this movie. The Gospel is presented, discipleship is emphasized, and there are many important life lessons. This is a great film for a family or church group to see and talk about after.

• Violence: Minor
• Drugs/Alcohol: Minor
• Profane language: None
• Vulgar/Crude language: None
• Nudity: None
• Occult: None
• Wokeism: None

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

‘Jumanji: The Next Level’: Film Review

The jungle game grows ever more elaborate now that this action-comedy franchise has found its footing, mixing and matching players with their avatars.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

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When Sony dusted off its 22-year-old “Jumanji” movie for a distant sequel in 2017, it looked to some as though Hollywood had hit rock bottom in terms of pillaging its own properties. In fact, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” proved to be that rare reboot that built upon its initial high concept — a jungle-themed board game that takes over a family’s living room — with a clever new riff in which four mismatched teens, thrust together in detention, are sucked into an old-school video game console, assigned to avatars who are nothing like their real-world personalities.

It was like “The Breakfast Club” with a 21st-century twist, where the nerd becomes Dwayne Johnson ’s brawny hero, the popular girl winds up stuck in Jack Black ’s body, and so on. More often than not, effects-driven blockbusters get dumber as the series go along, but “ Jumanji: The Next Level ” invents some fun ideas to keep things fresh, suggesting that Columbia Pictures is committed to treating the property as a proper franchise — right down to the final scene, which teases an even wilder direction for the story to go from here.

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That movie looks like a blast. In the meantime, however, director Jake Kasdan had to make a choice: Either he could conjure a new mix of characters to go on virtual safari, or he could bring back the original players and switch up the alter egos with whom they’re paired in the video game world. Kasdan decides to do both. Collaborating with returning co-writers Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg on the script, the helmer reassembles the four unlikely friends, back home for the holidays. Rather than stop there, the script also introduces a couple newbies in the form of Danny DeVito and Danny Glover, playing crotchety ex-business partners Eddie and Milo, estranged for 15 years, who happen to be in the house when that cursed cartridge zaps everyone into its perilous parallel reality.

Just before that happens, we learn that the romance between awkward, asthmatic Spencer (Alex Wolff) — the one who got to be “The Rock” last time around — and shy girl Madison (Morgan Turner) didn’t survive freshman year of college, whereas football player Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain) and social media-obsessed Bethany (Madison Iseman) seem to be thriving in their respective post-high-school pursuits. The filmmakers had to come up with some reason for them to reenter the game, settling on the notion that Spencer, feeling like a worthless weakling, wanted to spend some more time as the strong, fast, and fearless Dr. Smolder Bravestone.

The game has other plans, which are better left unspoiled here, although it might have been nice for “The Next Level” to explore Spencer’s underlying psychology a bit more. The last two “Jumanji” outings appeal to a collective cultural nostalgia for ’90s-era video games, poking fun at the technical limitations and clichéd aspects of that experience (bad exposition, underwritten supporting characters, silly situations). What they ignore is the near-addictive way such games’ more sophisticated successors have come to dominate the lives of those who play them.

What if Spencer, instead of just firing up the dangerous old game on a whim, had been playing it by himself all this time, to the extent that the others had to stage an intervention — by going in after him? There’s no room for anything so serious in “The Next Level,” which instead wants to amuse us with the possibility that its characters might be assigned to different avatars, providing the movie stars who play them an opportunity to channel different (and in some cases, multiple) personalities.

The best thing about “Welcome to the Jungle” was watching Johnson poke fun at his own persona by pretending to be a meek kid suddenly blessed with a movie-star bod and the allure (or “smoldering intensity”) to match. Here, through a fluke of the system that bypasses the character-selection stage, it’s Spencer’s grandpa Eddie (DeVito) who lands in Bravestone’s shoes, while slow-talking fellow oldster Milo (Glover) gets to be Franklin “Mouse” Finbar ( Kevin Hart ).

Johnson’s easily the most bankable action star in Hollywood right now, but he’s got an incredibly narrow range, and asking him to do a Danny DeVito impersonation has unintentionally hilarious results. At times, he seems to be doing a British accent; at others, he sounds like a cross between Barbra Streisand and Elaine Stritch. It boggles the mind: Did Johnson actually spend any time with DeVito developing the character? Was his entire performance based on another actor, who was then recast after Johnson’s part was in the can?

Hart does a better job of convincing us that his know-it-all zoologist has been possessed by a rambling old fogey, who parcels out key facts too slowly to be of any use, while Black (whose default setting is “overacting”) exaggerates the frustration that a black athlete like Fridge would feel trapped in the position of an out-of-shape white guy such as Shelly Oberon, the group’s map-reading (but otherwise useless) comic relief. Somehow, Madison managed to return to the same avatar she had before, Lara Croft-like teammate — and “killer of men” — Ruby Roundhouse, although another twist slightly later in the story will allow players to swap avatars. The sequel also gets a couple new characters, including a cat burglar named Ming, played by Awkwafina, who proves the most entertaining in her multiple-personality reinterpretations of the role.

Clearly, “The Next Level” could be confusing for anyone who hasn’t seen the original (references to cake as one of Mouse’s weaknesses serve as an inside joke to returning viewers), although it helps that Milo and Eddie don’t understand what’s happening to them, allowing the others to shout the rules as they go along. If you’ve ever tried to play a video game with someone of your grandparents’ generation, you’ll appreciate the exasperation the repeat players feel toward these absurd exchanges — which mirror how any catch-up conversation would go in which “Jumanji” fans tried to explain the plot of this movie to an oblivious older relative.

“Jumanji” may have begun as a jungle game, but now it’s expanded to include David Lean-ian desert challenges (a dune buggy chase from a herd of angry ostriches) and an elaborate medieval finale plainly inspired by “Game of Thrones” (right down to the casting of Rory McCann as grimy new villain Jurgen the Brutal). Kasdan amps up the violence and intensity in “The Next Level,” although the players each have three lives apiece, which undermines the stakes of all that flashy computer-generated peril — a plus for younger audiences, assuming parents don’t take issue with death being treated as a joke.

For the most part, the film’s values are in the right place, and apart from a few off-color bits (about penis size and sexual prowess), the humor serves the greater goal of looking past one’s physical limitations and respecting friendships in whatever form they take. The storytelling may be sloppy in parts, but the cast’s collective charisma more than compensates. As the saying goes: Don’t hate the players, hate the game.

Reviewed at The Grove, Los Angeles, Dec. 9, 2019. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 123 MIN.

• Production: A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Columbia Pictures, Matt Tolmach Prods., Radar Pictures, Seven Bucks Prods. production. Producers: Matt Tolmach, Jake Kasdan, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia. Executive producers: David Householter, Melvin Mar, Scott Rosenberg, Jeff Pinkner, William Teitler, Ted Field, Mike Weber.
• Crew: Director: Jake Kasdan. Screenplay: Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg. Camera (color, widescreen): Gyula Pados. Editors: Steve Edwards, Mark Helfrich, Tara Timpone. Music: Henry Jackman.
• With: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan
• Music By: , Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner,  Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito.

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Jumanji: The Next Level

Like its predecessor, this latest “ Jumanji ” movie combines fantasy action and adventure with some comedy, a touch of romance, and real-life lessons about courage, friendship, and empathy—all with the help of some low-key race and gender fluidity. 

At the end of the last film, the four high school students who got sucked into an old-school video game console and found themselves turned into archetypal adventure heroes (some more heroic than others), were so happy to get home that they smashed the game. But the movie made a lot of money, and so the game is operational again, and this time the now-college-age kids are joined by a couple of old-school characters. 

Spencer ( Alex Wolff ) is now a freshman at NYU. Maintaining his romance with Martha ( Morgan Turner ) long-distance has been rocky and as he returns home for Christmas break he is not sure whether they are on or off. Spencer’s grandfather Eddie ( Danny DeVito ) is recuperating from hip surgery, so he is in the house, too, along with his stair lift, hospital bed, and CPAP machine. Eddie’s estranged former business partner Milo ( Danny Glover ) comes over to try to repair their relationship, but Eddie is not interested. 

Spencer misses the confidence he had as the video game avatar Dr. Smolder Bravestone ( Dwayne Johnson ). And so, he goes back inside the game where the life and death challenges somehow seem more familiar and easier to handle than real life. When he does not return, Martha, Bethany ( Madison Iseman ) and Fridge ( Ser'Darius Blain ) re-enter the game to rescue him. There’s a bit of a switch, though. The game is once again up to mischief, and this time, while Martha is again dance-fighting expert Ruby Roundhouse ( Karen Gillan ), it is Eddie who shows up as Dr. Bravestone. Milo is the weapons knapsack-carrying Mouse Finbar ( Kevin Hart ), while Fridge is the former Bethany avatar, pudgy map-expert Dr. Shelly Oberon ( Jack Black ). No one knows where Bethany is.

Once again, each of the avatars has three bars on the wrist, one for each life the game allows. A few of those lives get used up right away as Martha/Ruby tries to explain to the befuddled Eddie and Milo what is going on. 

Like all good video games, this level is more difficult than the last. The production design by Bill Brzeski is stunning and thrillingly imaginative, while the stirring music from Henry Jackman suggests not just the best in video games but the most fondly remembered classic adventure films. Following the first movie’s jungle adventure, this sequel takes them through the desert and to a castle on an icy mountaintop, with hold-your-breath perilous travels by dune buggy, rope bridge, and zeppelin. There’s danger from snakes, ostriches, and boobytraps. There’s also a new villain, a massive Hun-like conqueror named Jurgan the Brutal ( Rory McCann ). This level’s goal is to capture a jewel that Jurgan stole from gentle indigenous farmers. 

Eventually Bethany and the character they rescued in the first film, Alex ( Colin Hanks ), show up in the game, too. Alex is back with his previous avatar, Seaplane ( Nick Jonas ), but Bethany is a whole new character, and so, when they finally find him, is Spencer. I won’t give those away; I’ll just say that the most fun of this film comes when Johnson, Gillan, Hart, Black, and, a terrific new addition, Awkwafina, get to cycle through different character/players. The script does a good job of keeping the age, race and gender switches low-key. There’s some brief schoolyard-style crude humor but thankfully it’s never shrill or archly coy.

Johnson was terrific as Spencer in the first film, a humorously exaggerated version of an adolescent discovering the power of adulthood. But as the outer version of Spencer’s cranky grandfather, he’s clearly having more fun. He barely notices the surreal concept of being trapped inside a video game (he does not appear to be entirely sure what a video game is), and is much too busy swiveling hips that for the first time in years have a full range of motion. Johnson/Bravestone as Spencer was something to aspire to, in a future that still seemed filled with infinite potential, but Johnson/Bravestone as Eddie is filled with the bucket list delight of someone who sees nothing but loss ahead. Hart is especially good at toning down his usual peppery energy as the avatar for the slow-talking Milo, whose avatar’s strength is languages but who retains his discursive style. Black and Awkwafina both have a chance to represent more than one of the human characters, making each one distinct and clever.

The fantasy of the avatars, with their assigned strengths and weaknesses, make it possible for the characters to become more honest with themselves and each other. As with the first film, the humor and excitement are nimbly balanced so it never gets too scary or silly, and the focus is more on friendship than romance. This time, there is a light touch of poignance as well that makes the message about friendship more meaningful. And like all good video games, there’s a hint of yet another level at the end for those, like me, who are not yet ready to say Game Over.

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

• Dwayne Johnson as Dr. Smolder Bravestone
• Jack Black as Professor Sheldon 'Shelly' Oberon
• Kevin Hart as Franklin 'Mouse' Finbar
• Karen Gillan as Ruby Roundhouse
• Nick Jonas as Jefferson 'Seaplane' McDonough
• Danny DeVito as Eddie
• Awkwafina as Ming
• Danny Glover as Milo
• Rhys Darby as Nigel Billingsley
• Alex Wolff as Spencer Gilpin
• Ser’Darius Blain as Anthony 'Fridge' Johnson
• Madison Iseman as Bethany
• Morgan Turner as Martha Kaply

Director of Photography

• Gyula Pados

Original Music Composer

• Henry Jackman
• Jake Kasdan
• Jeff Pinkner
• Scott Rosenberg
• Steve Edwards

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Jumanji: The Next Level Reviews

Great family fun that leans into the solid performances by Jack Black (as always), Dwayne Johnson (laughing at himself), Kevin Hart, Nick Jonas, and Awkwafina as they explore the film's playful and adventurous spirit with humor. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 28, 2022

Jumanji: The Next Level has multigenerational appeal, and Id suggest grandparents will enjoy its much as the kids. I suspect many more levels to come.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 12, 2022

You’re in luck if you liked the first film, as Jumanji: The Next Level feels almost identical to it. It’s a blessing and a curse, but thankfully more on the blessing side of things.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | May 19, 2022

And against all the odds, Jumanji: The Next Level is great, possibly even better than the previous film. Scrap that, it IS better than the previous film.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 10, 2021

Jumanji: The Next Level disproves the law of diminishing returns with sequels thanks to a bevy of humor, action, and actors exploring their full capabilities.

Full Review | Feb 17, 2021

Goes the way of so many other sequels, replacing the original charm with a story that is larger and louder but not as engaging.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 30, 2021

An unimaginative, paint-by-numbers film that avoids originality like a stampeding ostrich and reminds audiences that this is merely a re-run of The Dwayne and Kevin Show.

Full Review | Jan 28, 2021

An unfortunate step down from the hilarious original, the performances have weakened and the plot has become overly complicated, but it still has plenty of laughs.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 16, 2020

Feels as if it was written by people who don't play video games.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Dec 7, 2020

The effect works for about a half-hour before wearing on your patient soul.

Full Review | Nov 10, 2020

It is the level of energy that these performances bring that keeps this whole business rolling along throughout the familiar plot mechanics.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 28, 2020

Delivers enough subtle changes to the formula that it feels like these characters are more than justified in returning for another adventure.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Aug 15, 2020

The plot seriously needs more focus, but this is still a level up from Welcome to the Jungle and again makes the right call in letting the cast do the hard work.

Full Review | Original Score: 3 / 5 | Jul 28, 2020

Enlivened by a deft combination of nifty special effects, calibrated human emotions and pulse-pounding action [Jumanji: The Next Level] does take the game up a few notches.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 14, 2020

The best parts of Jumanji: The Next Level has nothing to do with the plot or even the action scenes. It has all to do with these actors getting a chance to have fun and play around with their performances.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jul 8, 2020

They've found that perfect franchise formula, one open enough where you can play around with the elements without messing up the core structure.

Full Review | Jun 27, 2020

Jumanji: The Next Level successfully puts a fresh and inventive spin on what it accomplished in Welcome to the Jungle...

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 25, 2020

See Jumanji: The Next Level for an escapist ride into a tame fantasy.

Full Review | May 4, 2020

Family-friendly actions really don't come any better than Jumanji: The Next Level. Every member of the family from kids to grandparents will find something to like.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 22, 2020

"Jumanji: The Next Level" turns out to be a better-than-expected sequel.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 14, 2020

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Jumanji: welcome to the jungle.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 151 Reviews
• Kids Say 224 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Star-studded reboot is charming; some iffy stuff.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a new take on 1995's Jumanji . This time, instead of entering a board game, the players enter a video game. The popular stars, including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, are likely to appeal to…

Why Age 11+?

Many scenes of peril and death (though most of it isn't permanent). The four tee

Bethany (in Professor Overton's body), Spencer, and Fridge have an extended conv

A few uses of "s--t" and variations on "ass": "shut your ass up," "badass," "dum

The Sony brand is displayed several times (unsurprising, since it's a Sony film)

In one scene the teens (as their adult avatars) all drink blended margaritas, bu

Any Positive Content?

Messages about teamwork, communication, and generosity. The characters can't thi

The young characters all have to learn to grow, be brave, and work together in t

Violence & Scariness

Many scenes of peril and death (though most of it isn't permanent). The four teens all start out with three lives in the video game, and each one gets down to one life. Their in-game deaths range from comical (one person explodes after encountering their weakness and later is trampled by rhinos) to matter-of-fact (one character is bitten by a snake and disappears) to frightening (a character is mauled by a jaguar). But after dying in the game, they return. In one tense moment, a character with only one life left is dying, but he's saved by another character. The villain can control animals on the island, and he kills a henchman with a scorpion bite. Several martial-arts, video game-like battles. A couple of jump-worthy moments involving a jaguar jumping into the frame and a snake hissing, pouncing. Spoiler alert: All of the main characters survive.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Bethany (in Professor Overton's body), Spencer, and Fridge have an extended conversation about what it's like for her to have a penis, how to pee standing up, and how "crazy" it is, etc. There's even a reference to an erection, but the word is never said, nor is the topic of discussion shown (everyone else tells her she has "a situation down there"). Bethany teaches Martha how to flirt and use her sexuality to "distract men." Martha (as Ruby Roundhouse) is uncomfortable dressed in a crop top and tiny shorts. A couple of kisses, both in avatar form and in their regular bodies. Spencer's body (as Bravestone) and smoldering good looks are a frequent topic of conversation. Sexualized comments about "hitting that" etc.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

A few uses of "s--t" and variations on "ass": "shut your ass up," "badass," "dumbass," and "jackass," as well as "hell," "damn," "sucks," "boob," "oh my God," etc.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

The Sony brand is displayed several times (unsurprising, since it's a Sony film); other brands briefly shown include Instagram, Purell hand sanitizer, Nike, Mercedes-Benz, Metallica, Chrysler Pacifica.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

In one scene the teens (as their adult avatars) all drink blended margaritas, but two of them spit it out. One gets drunk (because he's half the size of his regular self).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Messages about teamwork, communication, and generosity. The characters can't think only of themselves, because they need one another's strengths to complete tasks, go up levels, and ultimately finish the game. Teamwork requires trust and honesty. Other messages include the idea that friendship shouldn't be based on a person's social status and that everyone has ways in which they shine or stand out.

Positive Role Models

The young characters all have to learn to grow, be brave, and work together in their adventure. On the other hand, young women are depicted as being good for distracting men by playing dumb, "nasty," or "totally into" them.

Parents need to know that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a new take on 1995's Jumanji . This time, instead of entering a board game, the players enter a video game. The popular stars, including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson , Kevin Hart , Jack Black , and Karen Gillan , are likely to appeal to audiences of all ages. Expect some swearing (mostly "s--t" and "ass"), as well as action violence -- the main characters each die multiple times within the game (but they're regenerated quickly) -- and a couple of jump scares. Characters kiss and flirt awkwardly, and there are several references to dating, experience, and the humor of having a penis (one of the female teens is in a male avatar for most of the movie). There are also references to how girls/women can "distract men" with their attention and body, which doesn't send a great message to girls. That said, The Rock's character's body is also objectified. Still, there are positive themes here related to teamwork, empathy, selflessness, and communication, making this an easy pick for families who enjoy action adventures -- especially if they saw the original movie or read the Chris Van Allsburg book on which both films are based. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (151)
• Kids say (224)

Based on 151 parent reviews

J:WJ - 2 Thumbs Up!!! :)

It could of been excellent, what's the story.

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is an updated adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's picture book , this time turning the life-changing board game into a video game. The movie opens in 1996, when a teenager's father gives him the Jumanji board game. When he bemoans aloud that nobody plays with board games anymore, it magically transforms into a video game, which he gets sucked into. Fast-forward to the present, and four high schoolers are sent to detention on the same day: self-absorbed "hot popular girl" Bethany ( Madison Iseman ), bookish Martha (Morgan Turner), nerdy Spencer ( Alex Wolff ), and his childhood friend turned football star Fridge (Ser'Darius Blain). While serving detention, Fridge and Spencer find the Jumanji game in an old donation box and convince the girls to play. After they each choose an avatar, they're immediately pulled into the game, where Spencer is transformed into superhero-sized archeologist Smolder Bravestone ( Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson ), Fridge is Bravestone's diminutive sidekick zoologist Moose Finbar ( Kevin Hart ), Martha is "killer of men" vixen Ruby Roundhouse ( Karen Gillan ), and Bethany is cartographer Professor Shelly Overton ( Jack Black ). To get out of the game, the foursome must work together to save Jumanji from the control of the evil Van Pelt ( Bobby Cannavale ) -- before any of them lose all of their three assigned lives.

Is It Any Good?

This crowd-pleasing reboot may not be earth-shatteringly good, but it benefits from its stars' irresistible comedic and action charm. At this point, there's not a movie that The Rock doesn't make better by his presence. Because of his size, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has a lot of wink-wink nods to his smoldering looks and seemingly invincible body -- which are even funnier because he has to play being amazed by his own strength, considering he's actually the lanky, nerdy Spencer inside. All of the adult actors do a fine job portraying the insecure, horrified, or awed teens controlling their avatar bodies. And the young actors who bookend the movie are believable as two nerds and two popular kids thrown together for an intense, unexpected adventure.

Hart's and Black's characters will naturally get the biggest laughs -- mostly joking at their own expense. Considering that the 5-foot-4 Hart is literally a foot shorter than Blain, prepare for an onslaught of height jokes. Women may cringe at Bethany's (as played by Black) "flirting class" to teach the Hermione-esque Martha how to manipulate men by sparkling like an anime character, but watching Black give this lesson in a falsetto is admittedly quite funny. At least Martha voices her indignation at her crop top and short-shorts, which she astutely points out make no sense as an explorer's outfit. Director Jake Kasdan definitely isn't creating anything new here, and the male leads are all playing to their established strengths, but the character-within-a-character setup is entertaining enough to make audiences cheer, jump out of their seats, and even laugh aloud in this mashup of Jumanji , The Breakfast Club , and Avatar .

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how each of the characters becomes a role model in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle , and which character strengths they exhibit throughout the movie.

What did you think of the talk regarding how girls/women can use their bodies and attention to "distract" men? What message does that send? Is it OK because a male body is also objectified? Why or why not?

Talk about the violence in the movie. Did it change the impact knowing the characters were inside a game?

Talk about social media and how difficult it is for Bethany, in particular, to be without her phone. Do you think teens rely too heavily on their phones and devices ?

What's the value of knowing how to play video games? What do multiplayer role-playing games teach you? What are your favorite games?

Movie Details

• In theaters : December 20, 2017
• On DVD or streaming : March 20, 2018
• Cast : Dwayne The Rock Johnson , Karen Gillan , Kevin Hart , Jack Black
• Director : Jake Kasdan
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Black actors
• Studio : Columbia Pictures
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Adventures
• Character Strengths : Communication , Teamwork
• Run time : 119 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : adventure action, suggestive content and some language
• Award : Kids' Choice Award
• Last updated : July 8, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

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JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL

"friends should not hold grudges".

What You Need To Know:

JUMANJI:   THE NEXT LEVEL is a continuation of the JUMANJI reboot series of comedy adventures. Martha, Fridge and Bethany return to the video game world of Jumanji to rescue their friend, Spencer. However, instead of taking Bethany, the game takes Spencer’s grandfather, Eddie, and Eddie’s estranged friend, Milo, who’ve come to visit them. Not only must Martha, Fridge, Eddie, and Milo rescue Spencer; they also must save Jumanji from a mean and powerful warlord, who’s stolen a magical jewel that protects Jumanji from drought and desolation. To reach the warlord, the team encounters rampaging ostriches, vicious baboons and a maze of wooden bridges high above a deadly chasm.

JUMANJI:   THE NEXT LEVEL is an entertaining, funny, exciting comical adventure. The movie is about loving your friends and family. Happily, THE NEXT LEVEL has no gender-bending, sexual jokes, unlike the first JUMANJI reboot, which was subtitled WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE. However, like too many PG-13 blockbuster movies recently, it still has lots of foul language, including more than several strong profanities. Because of this, MOVIEGUIDE® still advises extreme caution for JUMANJI:   THE NEXT LEVEL.

Miscellaneous Immorality: Man holds a grudge against his former business partner and has a negative view of growing old, but this changes for the better, two characters lie their way into the villain’s lair.

More Detail:

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is a continuation of the JUMANJI reboot series of comedy adventures, with now college-age friends having to return to the mystical video game to rescue their friend and to save Jumanji from a mean and powerful warlord bringing death and desolation throughout the land. JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is an entertaining, funny, exciting comical adventure with some positive lessons about friendship, but it contains lots of foul language, including some strong offensive profanities, so MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.

As the movie opens, Spencer returns to his hometown from Columbia University in New York City for Christmas vacation. He’s supposed to be staying with his mother and her elderly father, Eddie, who’s recovering from a hip replacement. Spencer is scheduled to meet up with his three high school friends Bethany, Fridge and Martha. Spencer recently broke up with Martha because he feels inadequate since they left the Jumanji video game where he took on the video game character of Dr. Bravestone.

In the basement of his mom’s house, Spencer finds the Jumanji game and decides to return to Jumanji. His three friends come looking for him. They find the game and decide to return to Jumanji to rescue Spencer. However, the game only transfers Martha and Fridge to the game, along with Spencer’s grandfather and the grandfather’s estranged friend, Milo, who’s stopped by for a visit. This time, the grandfather becomes Dr. Bravestone, Milo becomes the zoologist Mouse Finbar, Martha is still the martial arts expert Ruby Roundhouse, and Fridge becomes the chubby cartographer Shelly Oberon.

After some comical business with Milo and Spencer grandfather discovering the goofiness in the video game world, the game’s non-player character, Nigel, explains the game’s new story. They must retrieve a magical jewel from the powerful new villain, Jurgen the Brutal. When activated by the sun’s energy, the jewel keeps the whole land of Jumanji fertile. Jurgen has hidden the jewel in a box, so drought and desolation have begun to engulf the land. The team has to find Spencer and find a Jumanji berry, the one thing that weakens Jurgen.

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is an entertaining, funny, exciting comical adventure. The heroes must overcome a rampaging herd of mean giant ostriches, a crazy congress of vicious baboons and a maze of rickety wooden bridges to get to Jurgen’s lair. During their quest, Martha and Spencer have to reconnect, and Grandfather Eddie must reconnect with his friend, Milo, who sold their restaurant to retire with his late wife. Selling the restaurant took away Eddie’s reason for living. He’s held a grudge against Milo ever since.

THE NEXT LEVEL is about loving your friends and family. Happily, the movie has fewer gender-bending, sexual jokes when compared to the first JUMANJI reboot, which was subtitled WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE. However, like too many PG-13 tentpole movies recently, it still has lots of foul language, including more than several strong profanities. Therefore, despite its positive qualities, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL is not an appropriate movie for families with younger children and teenagers, and MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.

Jumanji: The Next Level Reviews Are In, See What Critics Are Saying

If this year has proven anything, it’s that reboots are hard and reviving a property with a recognizable name is not a guaranteed recipe for success. That’s what makes 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle such a remarkable feat. The near $1 billion grosser was a massive success, introducing delightful new characters played by a fun cast, while putting a new spin on the Jumanji mythos. Now, for those to seek to find a way to leave their world behind, the game is back with Jumanji : The Next Level .

The sequel film sees the players from the first film sucked back into the game where they will face new challenges and the fate of Jumanji will once again be in their hands. Director Jake Kasdan returns, along with the all-star cast of Dwayne Johnson , Kevin Hart , Karen Gillan and Jack Black . Newcomers Danny DeVito, Danny Glover and Awkwafina join them for an adventure that takes them out of the jungle and to new levels of danger. But does Jumanji: The Next Level take this franchise to the next level?

The first reviews for Jumanji: The Next Level are now up and it seems that the sequel succeeds in the same ways that its predecessor did, while failing to truly distinguish itself. In his 3-star review of The Next Level , CinemaBlend’s Dirk Libbey said:

It still has ‘fun and entertaining’ going for it, but in a way that feels much more familiar and safe, rather than surprising.

So while Dirk enjoyed the characters and the comedy and all the things that worked in the first film, he felt that Jumanji: The Next Level basically operated on the same level. It added a bit here and there while failing to revolutionize things and give audiences something truly new in the way Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle did in relation to the original Jumanji . In a sense, enjoyable, but unremarkable.

This sentiment, that Jumanji: The Next Level was fun but not as special and surprising as Welcome to the Jungle was echoed by Empire’ s Ben Travis in his review. He also gave The Next Level three stars out of five and wrote:

It doesn’t have the surprise factor of the last film and sometimes feels rough around the edges, but The Next Level pushes its body-swap antics even further to deliver just as many laughs.

Many of the critics have found that Jumanji: The Next Level has both good and bad on offer and how they weigh those good and bad elements ultimately determines whether or not the scale tips to a positive review or a negative one. For The Hollywood Reporter ’s John DeFore, the good outweighs the bad, but the idea is running thin. He wrote:

This installment is a clear case of diminishing returns, but enjoyable action set pieces and a surprise or two near the end should keep parental grousing to a minimum.

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While the action and the humor were enough for some critics, for others Jumanji: The Next Level was a game not worth playing. Slash Film ’s Josh Spiegel gave the sequel a five out of 10 and while acknowledging that The Next Level isn’t boring, he said:

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The Next Level is otherwise sweaty in its attempts to make its real-world characters and their choices remotely compelling, and their video-game exploits exciting. If there’s a third movie, they should figure out the story to start.

Although some critics found Jumanji: The Next Level to be a bit uninspired after Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle , others found it to be just different enough to stand as a very good sequel to very good reboot. In his review, Forbes ’ Scott Mendelson said of Welcome to the Jungle :

It keeps what worked about the last film and finds new (and ever-changing) ways to switch up the status quo in order to make what could have been a mere rehash feel fresh and unpredictable.

Lastly is IndieWire ’s Kate Erbland, who gave Jumanji: The Next Level a “C+.” Although she dinged Jake Kasdan’s film for its lack of originality, she still thought it justified the continued existence of the Jumanji franchise, saying:

It’s a fitting followup, and while not as original as its predecessors, makes a strong claim for the series to keep earning extra lives.

There's a good chance Jumanji will get those extra lives. The film is tracking for a strong opening weekend before the franchise once again faces off with Star Wars next week with the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker . Fortunately, it looks like Jumanji: The Next Level will benefit from largely positive reviews and potentially good word of mouth. As of now Jumanji: The Next Level sits at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 reviews.

Jumanji: The Next Level opens on December 13. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what movies you can look forward to next year.

Nick grew up in Maryland has degrees in Film Studies and Communications. His life goal is to walk the earth, meet people and get into adventures. He’s also still looking for The Adventures of Pete and Pete season 3 on DVD if anyone has a lead.

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'The Forge' Hits Top 5 At Theaters Over The Weekend

Tuesday, August 27 2024

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THE FORGE was awarded an A+ CinemaScore, making it the fifth in the Kendrick Brothers library, AFFIRM Films announces. This incredible achievement makes history as the fourth for Alex Kendrick as a director. The film delivered a solid opening weekend, landing in the top five and closing the weekend with $6.635M in just over 1,800 locations. 

THE FORGE builds on the cinematic world inspired by the Kendrick Brothers’ 2015 box office hit WAR ROOM which reached the #1 position in its second weekend, and is being hailed as their “most polished work” to date. 

“THE FORGE’s thousands of positive reviews speak to the appeal of this film,” said Rich Peluso, EVP/Head of AFFIRM Films. “Alex and Stephen Kendrick are uniquely gifted in knowing how to connect with their audience.” 

THE FORGE tells the story of Isaiah Wright, a 19 year old who lives for basketball and video games. A year out of high school, he still has no job, no plans, and no idea how to be a man. At odds with his single mom, Cynthia, Isaiah is given an ultimatum - to step up or move out. Feeling the pull from his friends and the push from his mom, Isaiah is hired by Moore Fitness, but has no idea how the owner will personally impact his life. With the prayers of his mother and prayer warrior Miss Clara, and unexpected guidance from his new mentor, Isaiah is forced to deal with his past, sacrifice his selfishness and discover how God might have a greater purpose for his life. 

The cast of THE FORGE includes familiar faces such as Priscilla Shirer (WAR ROOM, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE), Cameron Arnett (OVERCOMER, STAND YOUR GROUND), Karen Abercrombie (WAR ROOM, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3) and newcomer Aspen Kennedy. 

THE FORGE is directed by Alex Kendrick (WAR ROOM) and produced by Stephen Kendrick (WAR ROOM), and written by Alex & Stephen Kendrick.

The Kendricks’ previous films SHOW ME THE FATHER, COURAGEOUS, WAR ROOM and OVERCOMER were also awarded A+ CinemaScores.

‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ Review: Johnson and Hart Do Old Man Voices. That’s It. That’s the Movie.

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I was pleasantly surprised by 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle . We didn’t really need a sequel to the 1995 Robin Williams film (and it is a sequel since Welcome to the Jungle acknowledges that Williams’ character, Alan Parrish, had come to Jumanji before), but it worked well enough by taking video game tropes and turning it into a nice story about friendship with some good set pieces. I don’t think anyone expected it to make almost a billion dollars worldwide, especially at the same time there was a new Star Wars movie in theaters, but it did, so another film was inevitable, and here we are with Jumanji: The Next Level . However, this time instead of taking some big creative swings and pushing the video game tropes further, you have Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart talking like old men. That’s pretty much it. There’s technically a story and plot beats and some set pieces, but the biggest creative move is that two of the lead actors pretend to be elderly.

Picking up a couple years after the events of Welcome to the Jungle , Spencer ( Alex Wolff ), Martha ( Morgan Turner ), Bethany ( Madison Iseman ), and Fridge ( Ser’Darius Blain ) are still friends, but Spencer’s freshman year of college isn’t going so well. Looking to reclaim the power he felt when he was in the avatar of Smolder Bravestone (Johnson), Spencer tries to repair the game and gets sucked back in. His friends resolve to rescue him, but since the game is malfunctioning, the avatars get mixed up. Martha is still Ruby Roundhouse ( Karen Gillan ), but Fridge is now Shelly Oberon ( Jack Black ), Spencer’s grandpa Eddie ( Danny DeVito ) is Bravestone, and Eddie’s estranged pal Milo ( Danny Glover ) is Finbar (Hart). Saddled with two old guys who don’t understand video games, Fridge and Martha must work to save Spencer while Bethany, still outside the game, tries to figure out how to help her friends.

One would think that if Jumanji is on the fritz, that would open a lot of creative opportunities for glitches, debugs, cheats, or other ways to play with video game tropes to throw unexpected challenges at the characters. It would also be a nice metaphor for life not going as you planned it when you think you have things figured out, as is the case with Spencer. But the screenplay chooses to go on another adventure to reclaim another jewel from another forgettable bad guy with the only difference being that Johnson and Hart are pretending to be old guys. For Johnson and Hart, I’m sure this is a lot of fun, and there are some good jokes scattered about, but certainly nothing that can sustain a two-hour movie.

All of the conflicts feel phoned in. Spencer’s need to go back into a game that almost killed him and his friends should loom much larger, but he basically gets off with an apology and it’s not really revisited. There’s a bit more meat on the estrangement between Eddie and Milo, but honestly, I’d much rather just see that as a real movie where DeVito and Glover play two curmudgeons who need to repair their friendship. But Hollywood isn’t interested in making that kind of movie because it doesn’t earn a billion dollars, so instead it’s better to play the conflict with one of the biggest action stars and one of the biggest comedy stars.

The mercenary nature of The Next Level isn’t inherently objectionable since we’re all adults here and we know how studios operate, but it’s the lack of creativity that makes the movie ring so hollow. I get the need to strike while the iron is hot and quickly turn around a sequel, but the lack of care makes The Next Level feel like a chore. “Do the same thing, but two of your characters act elderly now,” is disappointing, and even the addition of Awkwafina , who’s a scene stealer late in the movie, can’t really elevate the overall picture. With The Next Level you frequently feel like you’re going through the motions so that Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart can have a good time, get paid, and have a successful franchise.

Some may think it’s silly that I expected anything at all from The Next Level . After all, it’s the third Jumanji movie. But I genuinely enjoyed Welcome to the Jungle and had hoped that the level of creativity and fun director Jake Kasdan brought to that movie would return for the follow-up. Sadly, The Next Level seems like a studio following through an obligation to its shareholders rather than making something the audience would welcome. While there’s a mid-credits scene that hints at an exciting adventure to come, the minds behind the Jumanji franchise need to be far more imaginative if they’re going to press continue.

Review: ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ is more of a retread than an upgrade

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Two years ago, amid the glut of a busy holiday movie season, I opted not to review “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” You won’t read a less interesting opening sentence in this newspaper, I know, but bear with me. Catching up with the movie several weeks and several hundred million dollars in box office later, I realized that my decision had been — well, not a mistake, exactly. But at the very least, a missed opportunity to weigh in on a surprisingly effective year-end diversion, a studio-engineered cash cow that’s a pretty good time before it more or less evaporates from memory.

As directed by Jake Kasdan, “Welcome to the Jungle” took the mysterious board game introduced in Chris Van Allsburg’s splendid picture book (the basis for the not-so-splendid 1995 Robin Williams movie) and upgraded it into a Nintendo-style console entertainment. Said game then proceeded to suck four teenagers into its virtual safari-themed world, recasting them as fantasy avatars played, in nimbly elastic comic performances, by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan. It was a body-swap comedy at heart, a movie of gratifyingly analog pleasures beneath the obligatory CGI razzle-dazzle.

And speaking of obligatory: I promised at the time I wouldn’t overlook the sequel, and so, well, here we are. I wish I could muster more enthusiasm, and so, I imagine, did the filmmakers. “Jumanji: The Next Level,” directed by Kasdan from a script he wrote with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, is an amiable retread passing itself off as an upgrade. It reunites the original cast and adds some welcome new faces, a couple of fresh conceptual wrinkles, two hair-raising action scenes and some unearned lump-in-the-throat sentimentality. It’s not bad for an hour’s entertainment; too bad it runs for two.

The setup piles a lot of stuff you don’t care about onto a bunch of characters you may not remember. They are Spencer (Alex Wolff), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), Bethany (Madison Iseman) and Martha (Morgan Turner), four teens headed home for the holidays after months away at college. Spencer’s feeling bummed out, having recently split from Martha; on hand to offer him some crotchety counsel is his grandfather, Eddie, played by Danny DeVito, who starts applying the comic electrodes in his very first scene. Whether he’s taking a well-timed fall or working wonders with a sleep-apnea machine, DeVito is the kind of effortless comic presence who can enliven even the hoariest premise.

Having DeVito turn into Dwayne Johnson, however, is another story. To sum up: Sad Spencer makes the beyond-imbecilic decision to play Jumanji again, and before long, he and his friends have been sucked back in, this time accompanied by Spencer’s grandpa, Eddie, and his estranged friend and former business partner, Milo (Danny Glover). But to everyone’s confusion, the player-avatar combos have been shaken up this time. Martha, at least, is still the intrepid “killer of men,” Ruby Roundhouse (Gillan), but this time it’s the strapping Fridge who inherits the body of portly professor Dr. Shelby Oberon (Black), while Spencer gets stuck with a brand-new avatar, a wily thief named Ming Fleetfoot (Awkwafina, never not welcome).

Adding to the confusion, Eddie finds himself playing the muscly hero Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Johnson), while Milo is now the diminutive zoologist Mouse Finbar (Hart). Got all that? Really, the proper way to summarize the plot of “Jumanji: The Next Level” would be with a diagram or a flow chart. All you really need to know, since each avatar effectively assumes their player’s personality and mannerisms, is that the Rock gets to chew on a New Jersey accent while Kevin Hart speaks in leisurely run-on sentences for a change. The grumpy-old-men ventriloquist routine feels silly and shoehorned in but, like the random reallocation of avatars or the late-breaking sight of Nick Jonas riding a horse, it does inject a bit of novelty into what would otherwise be an exhaustingly formulaic romp.

The game itself is determined to provide a fresh experience too. As explained by “Jumanji’s” long-winded non-player guide (an amusing Rhys Darby), the plot has gotten an upgrade, demanding that the players work together to steal (yawn) an all-powerful jewel from someone named Jurgen the Brutal (Rory McCann, the Hound on “Game of Thrones”) and his merry band of tundra-dwelling primitives before it’s too late. Beyond the jungle are new worlds of wonder — a desert crawling with killer ostriches, a gorge crawling with killer apes — to discover and nearly expire in. Naturally, the three-life limit is still in effect, promising one comically bloodless death scene after another.

To prevail in the end, our heroes must ensure that they’re fully in sync with their avatars, a task that will require some more in-game body swapping — and will entail the usual low-key body-shaming (poor Jack Black). The actors are as up to the challenge as ever; it’s fun trying to figure out, purely based on gestures and expressions, who’s playing whom. It’s way less fun having to endure Spencer and Martha’s relationship woes or Eddie and Milo’s soggy “Bucket List” routine. If the Jumanji masterminds insist on all this artificial sweetening, can the next level at least be Candy Crush?

‘Jumanji: The Next Level’

Rating: PG-13, for adventure action, suggestive content and some language Running time: 2 hours, 3 minutes Playing: In general release

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Christian Movie ‘The Forge’ Soars into Top 5, Earns Perfect A+ CinemaScore

• Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
• Updated Aug 26, 2024

A Christian movie cracked the Top 5 over the weekend and edged a new big-budget film as fans gave it a perfect A+ CinemaScore grade. The Forge (PG), the latest movie from filmmaking brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, opened the weekend at No. 5 with an estimated gross of $6.6 million even though it played in only 1,818 theaters—a significantly lower count than the four films above it that showed in at least 3,000 theaters. Made for only $5 million, The Forge beat the new $50 million budget movie The Crow , which grossed $4.6 million and finished No. 8, according to estimates.  

The $3,630 per-theater average for The Forge was No. 3 among all movies . 

Meanwhile, the A+ CinemaScore grade made director Alex Kendrick only the fourth director in film history to earn a perfect score, joining fellow faith -based filmmaker Jon Erwin, who also has four movies with A+ CinemaScores. The other Kendrick movies that scored an A+ were Overcomer  (2019), War Room (2015) and Courageous (2011). 

CinemaScore is a polling service that asks fans to rate movies they've seen on opening weekend. Perfect scores are rare. The other two new movies this weekend, The Crow and Blink Twice , earned B grades.  

The movie tells the story of an irresponsible young man who transforms into a responsible individual under the mentorship of a wise older mentor.

Stephen Kendrick, the producer of The Forge , said he and his brother judge a film's success not on box office numbers but on its impact on souls.

"Big picture, though, we're hoping and praying that the church will be strengthened, the lost will be saved, the gospel will go forth," he added. "It's hard to kind of calculate and measure that, but when you hear from people around the world sharing how the movies have changed their lives, it gives us a little foretaste of maybe what's to come."

WATCH: The Forge - Official Trailer (HD)

Photo Credit: ©Sony

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Dove Review

Cue the catchy drum beat because the classic game is back, but this time with a modern twist. With a nod to the original, the movie opens with Jumanji being unearthed from its forgotten place, buried in the sand. In order to ensnare the teenage mind of 1996, the board game, Jumanji, transforms itself into a video game cartridge, then is lost from memory until modern day.

The story picks up following the very different lives of four different teenagers who have all found themselves in detention. In a scene which makes anyone born before the year 2000 feel very old, they agree to play the game and are immediately sucked into the virtual world of Jumanji. There they discover that their bodies have been traded in for the game’s avatars and cannot escape Jumanji’s jungle unless they beat the game.

From beginning to end, the movie seeks to achieve one goal: make you laugh. Whether it’s a nerd discovering himself assuming the monstrous body of Dwayne Johnson, the teenage beauty lamenting the fact that she’s been given the body of Jack Black, or Kevin Hart’s dramatic and self-deprecating humor, the movie is loaded with moments to widen your eyes, drop your jaws, and keep you laughing the whole way through. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle does itself a favor by remaking the original in its title only. Director Jake Kasdan made the right decision when he decided to tell an entirely different story. Unlike the original, this film comedically critiques video game culture which is sure to make anyone who has played a game or two laugh out loud while also exploiting the humorous gold mine that is the angst of the modern teenager when placed in dangerous and adventurous situations. Like I said, from beginning to end, this movie will keep you laughing.

However, the laughs might feel like a moral compromise for some because of where the humor is sourced. Here’s where Dove comes in. Though we can attest to an all-around playful vibe of the movie, it’s important to our audience that we are clear to note that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle does not get Dove’s Seal of Approval, and if you’re concerned about content at all for your family, it’s best to stay home on this one. If, however, you’re wanting to risk it, here’s what you can expect.

Language plays a significant role in the comedic delivery of this film. This is Kevin Hart’s specialty, and though the film only earns a PG-13 rating, it does exceed Dove’s limit for language. The other strikes against Jumanji come from their usage of sexual humor. Though the sexualization of the primary female character in the film is itself a comedic critique of the sexualization of female characters in video games, she is nevertheless the subject of several moments of crass joking. Furthermore, since the film is about teenagers taking the forms of new bodies (some of the opposite sex), one can guess the sort of humor that would ensue as they explore their new bodies.

Dove Rating Details

Cartoonish action and adventure violence

Sexual jokes and innuendo

"Sh**"; "OMG"; "A**"; "B****"; several moments of suggestive language

Characters are seen trying alcohol for the first time

More Information

Film information, dove content.

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