Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle Review - 7 Ups & 4 Downs

1. It's A Rare Reboot That Actually Works

Though largely promoted as a sequel ahead of its release, and most fans expected it to effectively be a reboot that half-assedly served as a sequel, for the most part the movie is a pretty straight reboot with only the most cursory nod towards the 1995 movie.

While most film reboots end up missing the point of the original, the new Jumanji captures a similar sense of fun and adventure while appreciating how the world, especially the nature of games and entertainment, has changed over the last 20 years.

It smartly doesn't use nostalgia as a crutch but instead forges ahead on its own path while not forgetting what came before. It's a business gamble that certainly paid off as far as the end product goes, but with it releasing shortly after Star Wars: The Last Jedi, it's going to face an uphill struggle at the box office.

If it flops financially, hopefully Sony won't take the wrong message away from it (that people just want soulless retreads of classic movies).

What are your expectations for the new Jumanji? Shout it out in the comments!