Jumanji: The Next Level Review - A Familiar & Basic Sequel

“Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle” was one of the biggest surprises of 2017 as it came into a huge financial success and became a widely-beloved IP and also for it being a fun and well-made adventure. Now, the hurdle that its follow-up “Jumanji: The Next Level” had to jump over was to be something as fun but something as fresh too. And does it do that? Unfortunately no.

“Jumanji: The Next Level” follows our heroes once again as they reenter the game. The only difference now is that the heroes now bare different avatars than before and have a whole new level to face in the game. Hence the name “The Next Level”.

The film is extremely basic and plays itself too safe. There are many moments that feel similar and familiar and not moments that can give you new found enjoyment for what you’re watching and less of moments of familiarity as they are elements that we’ve seen before. It never tries to go beyond the given boundaries and thus the experience lacked the energy that the original had.

The cast themselves are still as entertaining as they were in the original and their chemistry is still on point with what came before. The action itself is a step up from the sequel as there was more creativity in those areas than in anywhere else.

“Jumanji: The Next Level” is a great definition for “sequel” as it plays on all familiar beats and occasionally goes out of those territories with creative and fun action and a well-rounded cast that keeps it an experience worth taking even though the journey is all too familiar.

“Jumanji: The Next Level” Grade: C