Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Review

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Release Date: 26th December 2017 - Australia

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures (presents)

Matt Tolmach Productions

Radar Pictures

Seven Bucks Productions

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Adventure/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 111 minutes

Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $962,542,945 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

When four high-school teens discover an old video game console they've never heard of, they are transported into the game's jungle setting and become the adult avatar bodies they chose. With their newfound skills, they'll need to put them to good use as they embark on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, and the only way to get back home is to finish the game or otherwise be stuck in it forever.

They soon discover that you are not just playing Jumanji–Jumanji plays you.

Cast

Dwayne Johnson - Spencer

Kevin Hart - Fridge

Jack Black - Bethany

Karen Gillan - Martha

Nick Jonas - Alex

Alex Wolff - Young Spencer

Bobby Canavale - Van Pelt

Ser'Darius Blain - Young
Fridge

Madison Iseman - Young
Bethany

Morgan Turner - Young
Martha

Rhys Darby - Nigel

William Tokarsky - Bread
Vendor

Rohan Chand - Boy at
Bazaar

Colin Hanks - Adult Alex
(Uncredited)

Marc Evan Jackson - Principal Bentley

Sean Buxton - Alex's Father/
Jogger

Tim Matheson - Older Alex's
Father/Old Man Vreeke
(Uncredited)

Missi Pyle - Coach Webb

Michael Shacket - Fussfeld

Maribeth Monroe - Teacher
Marin Hinkle - Spencer's Mom
Tracey Bonner - Fridge's Mom
Natasha Charles Parker -
Bethany's Mom

Mason Guccione - Gamer

Jamie Renell - Male Gym Teacher

Marc Evan Jackson - Principal Bentley

Kat Atman - Lucinda

Carlease Burke - Miss Mathers

Crew

Executive Producer/Director - Jake Kasdan

Based on the Book "Jumanji"/
Film "Jumanji" Screen Story - Chris Van Allsburg

Based on the Film "Jumanji" Screen Story/
Screenplay - Greg Taylor and Jim Strain

Based on the Film "Jumanji" Screenplay -

Jonathan Hensleigh

Screen Story/Screenplay - Chris McKenna

Screenplay - Erik Sommers, Scott Rosenberg
and Jeff Pinkner

Executive Producers - Ted Field, Dany Garcia,
Dwayne Johnson and Mike Weber

Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

David B. Householter

Producers - William Teitler and Matt Tolmach

Co-Producers - Hiram Garcia and Melvin Mar

Production Designer - Owen Paterson
Art Director - Steve Cooper
Art Director/Assistant Art Director: Hawaii -

Hugo Santiago

Set Decorators - Ronald R. Reiss

and Ken Chocolate (Uncredited)

Property Master - Josh Roth

Costume Designer - Laura Dean Shannon

Assistant Costume Designer - Carrie Grace

Director of Photography - Gyula Pados

Helicopter Technical Advisor - Doug Scroggins III

(Uncredited)

Location Manager - Laura Sode-Matteson

Unit Production Manager - Basil Grillo
Second Unit Director - Jack Gill

Stunt Coordinators - Gary Hymes
and Oakley Lehman

Motorcycle Coordinator - Justin Kell (Uncredited)

Dance Fight Coordinator - Nito Larioza

Special Effects Supervisor - J.D. Schwalm
Special Effects Coordinators - Eric Cook and
Eric Frazier

Visual Effects Supervisor - Jerome Chen

Visual Effects Supervisor: MPC - Robert Winter

Editors - Steve Edwards and Mark Helfrich

Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Designer/

Supervising Sound Editor - Julian Slater

Supervising Sound Editor - Joel Shryack

Sound Designer - Jon Title

Foley Artists - Gary A. Hecker and

Michael Broomberg

Production Mixer - John Pritchett

Re-Recording Mixer - Kevin O'Connell

Music - Henry Jackman

Music Supervisors - Manish Raval

and Tom Rolfe

Score Recordist and Mixer - Alan Meyerson

Review

Most people would have seen the original 1995 film adaptation of Jumanji as children and may be understandably biased towards the latest release in the Jumanji story. Having a movie that is a supposed reboot could be distasteful for those who have read the book and grown up with the previous cinematic version. It would be especially so when this reboot has revolved around a video game instead of a board game. What is more, for some Jumanji fans, the leading actor, Dwayne Johnson, might not save the film and live up to the standards of the late Robin Williams. However, I was surprised that this was an actual continuation, not a senseless remake derived from pure egotism. WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is a cleverly updated version that adds a video game/body switch premise. Its lighthearted tone proves to audiences that this sequel is entertaining to even the most nostalgic viewers.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE's comedy is over-the-top but gets outrageously funny at an accelerated pace. The film delivers innuendos not suited for children under the age of six. The cast was terrific, with the four main actors, Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillian, having fun with their performances as teenagers trapped in their avatar bodies. Black portrays a teenage girl in her male avatar, which adds to the outrageous humour. It would not be the only time Johnson had visited the genre when he did Journey 2 years back. His macho persona hasn't prevented Johnson from handling the role better than his ill-fated on-screen part in Baywatch. Karen Gillian looks much brighter compared to her early years in Doctor Who. She is very remarkable in her role. One of the younger Jonas Brothers gets a role as a pilot but is doing it okay, and I liked Kevin Hart as the other source of funny comic relief.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE honours Williams' dying wish and is a literal game-changer. It eventually continues the lost spirit of the classic 1995 movie buried in a pile beneath the family category. I recommend this movie to audiences like you - or wait until it comes out on DVD, Blu-ray, and online streaming.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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