Jumanji: The Next Level
2019
***
Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito, Rory McCann
A few years after completing the game, Spencer longs back to Jumanji. When he ends up back in the game, his friends go on a rescue mission, but unintentionally take Spencer's grandfather and his former business partner along for the ride. The sequel to the highly enjoyable Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle delivers more of the same with some new twists. The first half reshuffles the real world characters and game avatars, which is not terribly funny and works only in the context of the previous episode. The movie is at its best in the second half when it sticks to the strengths of the original: the well-drawn characters, humour, and action.
