Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

"I want to be actually in the game!" Said no gamer ever.

Call of Duty anyone? The adrenaline rush from blasting and blowing up the enemy AI with a custom AK-47 makes any gamer feel invincible, as if they can actually go out to the field and own the world. But when a real AK-47 materializes in their hands and D-Day becomes a reality, I am not so sure if the respawn system will be of much help. "Jumanji" takes on that similar premise and gives us a glimpse of what it is like to be stuck in a modern video game. Now, "Jumanji" is originally the name of a board game based off the 1995 film "Jumanji" featuring Robin Williams, back when PlayStation wasn't really a thing. So here we are with the second installment of the Jumanji franchise, where we have evolved from playing Snakes & Ladders with our buddies to grinding on "Uncharted" in our own rooms for hours. For the gaming community, this film can be one of the most pleasant surprises of 2017. What exactly would it be like to be playing Lara Croft? How similar are the environments in the game as opposed to reality? What would it feel like to have superpowers? These are some of many questions that have lingered in people's mind since the birth of modern video gaming. But now we seem to have an answer to those on screen.

The plot is as straightforward as it can be. If the 1995 "Jumanji" or "Zathura" were ever part of your experience, the basic components are more or less the same, only under different contexts. It is 2016 in the neighbourhood of Brantford, Hamilton. There live a dedicated gamer, a football jockey, a basic Instagram addict, and a nerdy Princeton prospect, all who get into trouble at their high school and are under detention. At the school storage room, where they are forced to spend the weekend doing manual labour, a mysterious video game called Jumanji catches the eyes of the four juvenile delinquents. Unbeknownst to the game's magical powers, the four are sucked into the game and find themselves in a jungle, each in the forms of their game avatars. In order to escape the game for good, they must discover the secrets of the Jumanji jungle and save it from evil intentions, with a sprinkle of hoopla, of course.

If you heard of this film, then you know its magnificent cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. Can it get any better than this? If the 1995 "Jumanji" wasn't your cup of tea in the past, then the best reason why you should give it a second go is the hilarious chemistry between these actors. In fact, the comedic talent of the cast is what keeps the film from falling apart. For myself, this was the most surprising part of "Jumanji". Based on the trailers, the film seems like nothing more than aggregating some of the most mainstream comedians like Johnson and Hart, with some action and a fresh environment slapped onto it. To some extent, this case is true in some parts of the film (which will be briefly mentioned later). The characters, however, interact with each other almost seamlessly because of 3 complementary ingredients: the cast, the characters' profiles, and their personalities.

First off, the talent that the cast brings to table is obvious; Johnson, Hart, Black have enjoyed a successful career in comedy, and the public has learned to embrace them as icons, if you will. Consider "Jumanji" as another successful work in their repertoires. They performed exactly how we would expect based off previous films like "Kung Fu Panda", "Tooth Fairy" and "Ride Along". However, the surprise is not within the cast, but instead the type of characters that the actors embody. As mentioned, the story revolved around four very different types of students forced to cooperate and trust each other. For instance, how likely is it for a "cool jockey" to work with a "nerd"? You can already see, maybe based off experience, how this chemistry between the characters on paper itself can lead to a hilarious mess. Coupling this with people like Johnson and Hart to bring it to reality makes this entire circus so much better to watch. In addition, keep in mind that we have adult actors portraying the lives and personalities of young teenagers. Imagine a buff man with a stoic face acting like a child. Or a basic chick trapped in the body of an out of shape scientist. Indeed, it is this sort of ironic and sarcastic humour that does most of the heavy lifting in "Jumanji". If it weren't for the cast, the characters wouldn't have been portrayed properly. Likewise, if the characters weren't written properly, the cast would simple be a sum equaling its parts, and nothing more special. 

However, in terms of the positives, that is about it. The overall dialogue has a jaded style to it. The plot follows a very linear structure with no surprising twists or turns. The set design, no matter how colorful Jumanji jungle looks, is forgettable. And the action sequences, believe it or not, is sleep-inducing. In any film, a mediocre production like this usually translate to a mediocre box office performance of around $200 million or below. Yet, so far, "Jumanji" is over the $800 million mark, which is really an unexpected turn of events. How this became so may be because of its popular franchise title or due to the lack of competition (other than "The Last Jedi") during the Christmas break. But perhaps greater point to be made here is the sheer amount of load the cast carries to propel this film. Make no mistake, there is nothing in this film that is Oscar worthy for acting. Simply put, "Jumanji" is a good family entertainment that boasts a charismatic group of actors. While the jokes feels exhausting and the story is written in a rather predictable manner, the overall work gives off a fulfilling experience that any child will love. From an experienced moviegoer standpoint, it can feel as an unnecessary addition to the theater. But every now and then, we all need a departure from heavy themes. Just don't expect to feel any strong emotions like you would in "Twilight" or "The Revenant". The only reactions that you will produce is chuckling, grinning and giggling at Kevin Hart joking about his height and The Rock poking at his biceps. Overall, it is delightful to see a group of grown actors returning to their youthful ignorance, from awkward first kisses to the discovery of.... male genitalia (?). Everything that is written in "Jumanji", in colloquial terms, is for s**ts and giggles. In a pleasant way. A quick trip down the memory lane. Anyone who went through puberty would understand. What else is there to say? It doesn't hurt to give this one a go. 

Verdict: Agreeable 6

Box Office: $822.1 million

Release Date: December 20, 2017

Rewatchable: No

A game for those who seek to find a way to leave the world behind. Phew, what a game.