Jumanji: The Next Level is the third installment in the Jumanji franchise and serves as a sequel to both Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and the parent 1995 classic with Robin Williams. Directed by Jake Kasdan, the film ‘advances’ the new installment’s premise by once again putting a group of friends into the fantastical and dangerous world of a magical video game—but this time including new twists, expanded regions, and character dynamics unlike any the franchise has seen before.
The film continues to build off it’s predecessor’s strengths by featuring returning stars such as Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Kevin Hart alongside newcomers like Danny DeVito and Awkwafina. Jumanji: The Next Level is packed with even more action and humor than the last, and adds emotional depth while tackling themes of identity, aging, and friendship.
Plot Summary
The events of the film start one year after Welcome to the Jungle where the core group of friends consisting of Spencer (Alex Wolff), Martha (Morgan Turner), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), and Bethany (Madison Iseman) are in high school. The grade eventually graduates, and the friends go their separate ways. In the holiday season, they meet for a reunion but one person is notably absent for the gathering, Spencer. Over the course of the school year, he developed a strong lack of confidence. In an attempt to feel more comfortable in his skin, he secretly mends the broken Jumanji console and reenters the game.Out of concern for his safety, the others opt to go in after him and save him. The game glitches when they try to enter, trapping Eddie’s grandfather (Danny DeVito), Milo (Danny Glover), Fridge, and Martha in the game. This stroke of misfortune gives cover for new avatars to be assigned to the characters, leading to confusion and laughter.
Eddie is transformed into Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), Milo is turned to Mouse Finbar (Kevin Hart), Fridge comes into possession of Professor Oberon’s (Jack Black) body, with Martha once again taking on the mantle of Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan). Bethany, who was previously stuck in the real world, comes back into the game with aid from Alex Vreeke (Colin Hanks) and assumes the new avatar of Ming Fleetfoot (Awkwafina).
While having to deal with new difficult environments such as deserts, icy mountains, and treetop villages, the group also has to disguise Spencer—who is now in the form of a horse named Cyclone. To achieve this, the group must also tackle new antagonists, including Jurgen the Brutal (Rory McCann). Eddie and Milo deal with unsolved conflicts which gives rise to heartfelt moments during the action.
Characteros y Actuaciones
Dwayne Johnson como el Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Eddie)
Johnson does wonders by portraying a comedic version of a bewildered and grumpy elderly man played by DeVito. It is refreshing to see him step away from his confident, heroic roles.
Kevin Hart como Mouse Finbar (Milo)
Hart brings a new comical perspective through his sluggish, philosophical impersonation of Glover. His dialogue with Johnson is further evidence of their enduring synergy.
Jack Black como Profesor Oberon (Fridge)
Black shows us once more how versatile he is, this time by capturing the slang and body language of a middle-aged high school football player turned professor.
Karen Gillan como Ruby Roundhouse (Martha)
Gillan emotionally anchors the ensemble by combining physicality and emotional authenticity, performing action sequences as expertly as emotional scenes.
Awkwafina como Ming Fleetfoot (Bethany, luego Milo)
Awkwafina, who plays Bethany and later Milo, makes an impression as a new addition to the team by providing humor and emotional depth as she bids farewell to one of the characters.
Danny De Vito y Danny Glover
The two appear directly in the beginning and end while adding heart and depth against the youthful cast energy.
Direction and Visual Style
Director Jake Kasdan takes things a step further with his new vision of the Jumanji universe. The environments expand to include more stunning settings and breathtaking CGI sequences in deserts, snowy peaks, and ominous temples. The action is often fast-paced with a comedic element, adventure blended with slapstick humor and playful gags.
With all the chaos, Kasdan makes sure to highlight the quieter, emotional scenes as well, giving them the focus they need. And while there is plenty of high octane energy, themes of aging, regret, friendship, and letting go are bound into the fabric of the story.
Music and Sound
Jackman’s film score is adventurous and energetic, embodying older adventure films along with motifs introduced in Welcome to the Jungle. The sound design follows the structure of a video game and features punchy audio for battles, level transitions, and environment shifts reminding audiences they’re inside a virtual world.
🧠Themes and Analysis
Identity and Transformation
Characters deal with the inner conflict of how their avatars differ from them, posing the question, how does that impact their character? It is an introspective way to reflect on confidence, growth, and change.
Aging and Legacy
The inclusion of Eddie and Milo’s character adds emotional depth. Their story deals with aging, reconciliation, and finding meaning late in life.
Friendship and Teamwork
The unforgettable concept of the film revolves around the relationships and how they transform with time and how much effort, patience, and communication goes into forming and maintaining them.
Escapism vs. Reality
Spencer’s decision to return to the game emphasizes the wish to flee from real-life problems. This is one of the many issues that most people face in today’s world—where everything looks connected together digitally but emotionally it’s a maze.
Reception and Box Office
Jumanji: The Next Level was a commercial and critical success. It grossed close to $800 million worldwide, positioning it among the highest-grossing films of 2019. Critics commended the performances of the cast and humor and the creative take on sequeless. The audience appreciated the character arcs alongside the greater emotional depth that lay beyond the humor and action.
Although some reviewers pointed out that it followed the same pattern as the previous installment, most agreed that the new character interactions and larger world made it feel refreshing and engaging.
Conclusion
Jumanji: The Next Level is an exciting, touching sequel that seamlessly combines humor, action, and emotion. Along with furthering the realm of Jumanji, the movie also furthers the character arc and the character relationships. The film is appealing to younger audiences and adults alike due to its clever body-swapping comedy, remarkable performances, and life lessons packed within.
When a lot of sequels fail to live up to their predecessors, The Next Level demonstrates that with the right mix of originality and affection, even an overdone game has the potential to feel invigorating again.
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