Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle Review - 7 Ups & 4 Downs
A legitimately good video game movie. Seriously.
No, you're not dreaming: the new Jumanji sequel-reboot is actually good. That's right. With the review embargo lifting two weeks before the movie releases and the film already being previewed in select markets, it's safe to say that Sony was rightly confident about a film that has earned more than its share of ire from disgruntled fans of the classic 1995 Robin Williams-starring original.
Against considerable odds, the new Jumanji is a winningly fun, over-the-top blockbuster overflowing with charm thanks to its enthusiastic cast. Furthermore, the film carefully skates free from many of the concerns fans were justifiably worried about, neither tethering itself too closely to the original movie nor forgetting what made it so fun in the first place.
Simply, what could've been a forgettable tentpole is actually one of the year's most unexpectedly enjoyable, surprisingly smart blockbusters. It's not high-art and it won't stick with you for long, but it's a breezy ride while you're watching it, which given all the cynicism, is a damn miracle...