Jumanji: The Next Level Review - 6 Ups & 4 Downs
5. Danny DeVito & Awkwafina's Terrific Supporting Performances
As great as Jack Black is in this, he very nearly has the movie wrestled away from him by two new cast members joining the fray.
First off, Danny DeVito is a riot as Spencer's (Alex Wolff) cranky, decrepit grandpa Eddie, and though he of course only appears in the movie during its wraparound sequences, he makes the absolute best of his runtime.
Dwayne Johnson's impersonation of him is also a lot of fun, keeping his presence in the movie even when he technically isn't.
But what's most surprising about DeVito's role is that he's not simply here for laughs: he actually wrings some genuine pathos from the role (but more on that later).
Then there's Awkwafina, who appears as pickpocket Ming Fleetfoot. She's clearly having a blast, spending most of her screen time giving an outrageously accurate Danny DeVito impression.
DeVito and Awkwafina bring plenty of added value to the table, and between both them and Black in particular, they keep the film afloat during even its duller moments.