Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Director: Jake Kasdan
Screenwriters: Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman
The sequel picks up after the surprising success of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, returning to the video-game world with many of the same strengths and a few persistent weaknesses. Where the previous film reinvigorated the franchise with fast-paced comedy and unexpected warmth, Jumanji: The Next Level leans further into the game structure, delivering larger set pieces, fresh character permutations and more opportunities for the cast to play against type.
In this chapter, Spencer (Alex Wolff), Martha (Morgan Turner), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain) and Bethany (Madison Iseman) have moved on with their lives—but not all is well. Spencer, unhappy at college and craving control, goes back to the damaged Jumanji cartridge in hopes of inhabiting his avatar Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson) again. When his friends come to find him, the rescue mission becomes complicated: two unexpected newcomers—portrayed by Danny DeVito and Danny Glover—are pulled into the game, and the rules, environments and character dynamics shift in surprising ways.
The film’s central theme emphasizes acceptance: embracing the full spectrum of who you are, including the messy and mundane parts of life. This sequel explores what it means to escape into fantasy when real-world responsibilities intrude, and it balances that idea with the franchise’s hallmark blend of action and comedy.
Kasdan and his co-writers commit fully to the video-game conceit. The structure feels deliberately like a modern action-adventure sequel, moving the characters through diverse levels—jungle, desert, ice and more—each with specific challenges and escalating stakes. That format allows the filmmakers to introduce new quests, face new adversaries and reassign avatars to different players, which keeps familiar faces in novel situations.
Karen Gillan benefits from a larger spotlight this time as Ruby Roundhouse, assuming leadership among the group and getting more of the physical and emotional center-stage moments. Kevin Hart supplies his usual rapid-fire humor and an entertaining impression of Danny Glover, while Danny DeVito brings his distinct presence to the proceedings, often mining low-key comic beats. Dwayne Johnson offers both the expected heroic energy and a surprise, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it second role that rewards attentive viewers.
Jack Black’s take on Fridge is one of the film’s more divisive elements: it’s a broad performance that plays with identity and comedy in ways that won’t click for everyone. Still, the ensemble largely thrives on the premise of players inhabiting avatars that don’t always match their natural personalities. Awkwafina is a lively addition, delivering scene-stealing moments as Ming and convincingly portraying the awkward teen in control of a much larger-than-life body for much of the film.
The movie’s antagonist falls short of what the story arguably needs. Rory McCann attempts to bring menace to the role of Jurgan the Brutal and manages a few memorable face-offs, but the character receives limited screen time and feels underdeveloped compared with the film’s other components. The absence of a fully realized villain keeps the stakes from reaching their potential dramatic heights.
Action sequences are tightly constructed: chases, animal encounters and comic combat interlock with a brisk rhythm, and gags punctuate the physical set pieces effectively. Visual effects sometimes push the movie toward a glossy sheen, but the momentum and comic timing often compensate for moments that rely heavily on CGI. The screenplay sprinkles in callbacks to the earlier film and offers new comedic beats, though jokes about aging and forgetfulness are occasionally overused.
Mortality and consequence are hinted at but not exhaustively explored. The film touches on what losing lives in Jumanji might mean—a naturally poignant question when older characters are involved—while keeping the tone light enough for family audiences. The narrative also sets up future possibilities, plainly indicating that another installment could continue these threads.
Overall, Jumanji: The Next Level delivers an entertaining continuation for viewers who enjoyed the first film. It expands the game’s scope, gives its cast chances to flex different sides of their comic and dramatic range, and remains fundamentally a crowd-pleasing adventure. The result is enjoyable even when it feels a touch long or underpowered in its villainy—a worthwhile, if imperfect, return to the world of Jumanji.
15/24