Any movie with Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson, three of today’s best comedy actors, has to make an amazing film. Right? In this case, yes.
Directed by Jake Kasdan and released Dec. 20, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle tells the story of four high school students who, while in detention, are sucked into a game and made to “play” in order to get out.
This production is a remake of the 1995 Jumanji starring the late Robin Williams. Producer, Matt Tolmach, stated that this film is just another adventure from the Jumanji World. Basically the only connection with this film and the original is that the Jumanji game is a part of the story. The film is labeled as an action, adventure and most importantly, comedy.
The comedy in this film was very well-written and portrayed. Of course, having three of today’s best and most popular comedy actors in one movie, it’s bound to be filled with laughs. Unlike most comedies, though, this film did not overdo the comedy. When this film is trying to be funny, it actually is funny. On a recent Saturday in Lewiston, the whole audience cracked up almost every time Jack Black’s character, Professor Sheldon, spoke. But the best part about the writing of this film is that even though it’s a comedy, there are still serious moments.
The characters, in the beginning, were clichés. There was Ser’Darius Blain playing the jock who cheated on his homework, Alex Wolff as the nerd who did his homework. There was Madison Iseman playing the self-absorbed, popular girl, and Morgan Turner as the loner, outcast girl. When the characters are transported into the game they become complete opposites.
The remake modernizes Jumanji from a game board to a video game. According to variety.com, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, topped $500 million in the worldwide box office as of Jan. 5. This movie is enjoyable and rewatchable, and deserves a 9.6 out of 10.