‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ review roundup: A 'modestly funny' sequel that borrows from 'Mad Max' and 'The Lord of the Rings', say critics
'Jumanji: The Next Level' is the newest fantasy comedy film on the block. While nothing can match the beloved 1995 classic 'Jumanji' starring Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt, the sequel to its 2017 follow-up 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' has garnered favorable to mediocre reviews.
Written and directed by Jake Kasdan, the film sees four teenagers sucked into a video game and follows their misadventures as they navigate through the jungle while being pursued by plenty of dangerous creatures, and humans.
The film sees Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas reprise their roles alongside newcomers Awkwafina, Danny Glover, and Danny DeVito.
The film has received mediocre verdicts from the critics.
Bilge Ebiri of Vulture writes that the film is “a tired, modestly funny sequel” and says 'Jumanji: The Next Level' represents the version we might have dreaded, the tired and only modestly funny one that just coasts on its proved, no-longer-novel premise.
Mark Kennedy, a writer for the Associated Press, gave the movie two and a half stars and called it a “largely successful, if more unbalanced ride,” than 'Welcome to the Jungle.' “The plot is insane, as you might expect from an adventure video game quest,” he said, adding, “There are elements borrowed from 'Mad Max,' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and 'The Lord of the Rings.'
Meanwhile, Sara Stewart, writer at The New York Post, said that “the world did not need a follow-up to 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'.”
Giving the film a “B” rating, Mary Sollosi, writer at Entertainment Weekly, said that the film is packed with quite a bit more humor than the first.
Settling with two and a half stars again, James Berardinelli of ReelViews said that the film delivers close to what viewers expect from it.
Released in theaters on December 13, the movie has already earned over $55 million at the box office from its international debut last weekend.
Its predecessor, 'Welcome to the Jungle' opened to around $36 million in 2017 and went on to garner over $1 billion at the global box office.