So, there’s a remake and a reboot. A remake is taking a classic, copy-pasting the story line, but remixing a few bits here and there. Ultimately, the film is exactly the same. I am happy to announce that what we have here is a reboot; a stand alone film which has a similar concept and shares the exact same title as a timeless classic. The reason it makes me so happy to know it’s only a reboot is the fact that 1995’s Jumanji, is by far one of the greatest adventure films of all time. Jumanji: Welcome To the Jungle is able to create its own path and become a hero of a film, almost forgetting where the idea originally came from. Almost.
2017’s version opens with a scenic view of the ocean as the sand possesses the foreground. Those infamous drums sound and something seems to be hinting its presence through the sand. A jogger notices it and picks it up only for those drums to stop. 6 year old me squeals from excitement in realisation that that’s how the original ends – the Jumanji board game on the beach ready for its next victim.
Jumanji’s new owner ignores it at first, but when the drums sound and he finally pays attention to it, instead of a board game with those famous dice and pieces inside, he finds a cartridge suitable for one of the 90’s gaming consoles. He slots it in and with a spray of green light in the room, he vanishes.
Spencer (Alex Wolff), a gaming geek, Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), the football hero, Bethany (Madison Iseman), the too-cool-for-school girl, and Martha (Morgan Turner), the not so popular but very opinionated one, are all in detention for different reasons. They find the console in the storage room they are forced to serve their sentence in, with Jumanji still in it. Here prompts my first question. How did it get into the storage room of their school? Shrugging that confusing fact aside, we see the group either curious or obligated to join the game. Choosing their characters, they too vanish into the green light and become their selected new personas. Spencer becomes Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), the handsome and muscly fast runner who has no fears. Bethany turns into a middle-aged, overweight cartographer named Professor Sheldon “Shelly” Oberon (Jack Black). Missing a few inches in height and losing his speed, Fridge becomes zoologist, Franklin “Mouse” Finbar (Kevin Hart). Athletic, intelligent and bad-ass Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillian) takes over Martha’s physical features. The four land in the jungle still completely conscious of the fact that they are who they really are, but can spontaneously take on their new roles. One does start to wonder where the fifth character choice, that was on screen, is.
Their adventure begins when Spencer, now Bravestone figures out what has to be done. They must play the game and then they will be back to themselves. Of course, all of that isn’t with a few hurdles and realisations.
I can comfortably say that this film was awesome. Robin Williams was my first actor love. I was hesitant that anything of his could be touched. I mean, Will Smith better not stuff-up Genie when he gives his voice to the live action remake of Aladdin. However, after experiencing this fast paced adventure, I think Williams himself would be proud.
I’m just as able to say that this Jumanji movie is capable of giving new life to a film with everlasting longevity because of how profound and how unique it was for its time. The 90’s saw a lot of films start to use technology in fancier ways and Jumanji was a once in a life time film like no other. I applaud the crew behind the scenes who were able to create this film without completely destroying the magic it once was, but re-gifting it with just as much sense of adventure and abundance of movie magic. They have attempted to modernise it by entering the evolution of gaming and I don’t think it is that bad at all. A lot of the kids today will be able to love it their own way, the way we loved it when we were kids. That is without saying, Jumanji is a legend, but this film may not have the same longevity as the original. I really missed the board game being played in real time as all the levels of the game came to life. Welcome to the Jungle did something similar when a character lost a life. They would come from above and reenter the game in their signature landing. But it wasn’t the same as throwing the dice while Peter was sporting a tail and a furry face.
The original film was able to have its comical moments, but the big difference between the two is the drama. Welcome to the Jungle isn’t as dark or scary as Jumanji was. The giant spiders, the quicksand floor and the determined hunter Van Pelt gave you a sense of anxiety when watching the classic. This film doesn’t really do that. It’s more of a light-hearted adventure comedy whereas Jumanji excelled in fantasy. In many ways it is a very different film, but when you use the same title, you cannot help but compare. To name a couple of more points, it’s able to convey the strong message of no matter how big and strong you are, you too can conquer your fears. What’s to come is very predictable, but still this film is very easy to enjoy.
I take my hat off to the actors who were able to take on the likable roles, but they are also very typecast. Johnson is rarely playing a weak and vulnerable character even. Though Spencer has many fears, Bravestone is the depiction of strong. Hart is always some sort of angry and overcompensating for his lack of height with insults toward others. But, Black wins my highest praise. Being able play a stereotypical pretentious teenage girl who is too busy worrying about her phone, and has plenty of other first world problems, is magnificent. He is completely different to any other role he has ever portrayed.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is already a favourite for me this year, but I won’t be rushing to watch it again too soon. I know it sounds like I am on the fence with this one, but I really did have fun watching this, but am also very loyal to one of my favourites. I give this score cautiously, but acknowledging this Jumanji as its very own film. I give it a 4 out of 5.
