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Jumanji: welcome to the jungle, common sense media reviewers.

Star-studded reboot is charming; some iffy stuff.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Messages about teamwork, communication, and genero

The young characters all have to learn to grow, be

Many scenes of peril and death (though most of it

Bethany (in Professor Overton's body), Spencer

A few uses of "s--t" and variations on &

The Sony brand is displayed several times (unsurpr

In one scene the teens (as their adult avatars) al

Parents need to know that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a new take on 1995's Jumanji. This time, instead of entering a board game, the players enter a video game. The popular stars, including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, are likely to appeal…

Positive Messages

Messages about teamwork, communication, and generosity. The characters can't think only of themselves, because they need one another's strengths to complete tasks, go up levels, and ultimately finish the game. Teamwork requires trust and honesty. Other messages include the idea that friendship shouldn't be based on a person's social status and that everyone has ways in which they shine or stand out.

Positive Role Models

The young characters all have to learn to grow, be brave, and work together in their adventure. On the other hand, young women are depicted as being good for distracting men by playing dumb, "nasty," or "totally into" them.

Violence & Scariness

Many scenes of peril and death (though most of it isn't permanent). The four teens all start out with three lives in the video game, and each one gets down to one life. Their in-game deaths range from comical (one person explodes after encountering their weakness and later is trampled by rhinos) to matter-of-fact (one character is bitten by a snake and disappears) to frightening (a character is mauled by a jaguar). But after dying in the game, they return. In one tense moment, a character with only one life left is dying, but he's saved by another character. The villain can control animals on the island, and he kills a henchman with a scorpion bite. Several martial-arts, video game-like battles. A couple of jump-worthy moments involving a jaguar jumping into the frame and a snake hissing, pouncing. Spoiler alert: All of the main characters survive.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Bethany (in Professor Overton's body), Spencer, and Fridge have an extended conversation about what it's like for her to have a penis, how to pee standing up, and how "crazy" it is, etc. There's even a reference to an erection, but the word is never said, nor is the topic of discussion shown (everyone else tells her she has "a situation down there"). Bethany teaches Martha how to flirt and use her sexuality to "distract men." Martha (as Ruby Roundhouse) is uncomfortable dressed in a crop top and tiny shorts. A couple of kisses, both in avatar form and in their regular bodies. Spencer's body (as Bravestone) and smoldering good looks are a frequent topic of conversation. Sexualized comments about "hitting that" etc.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

A few uses of "s--t" and variations on "ass": "shut your ass up," "badass," "dumbass," and "jackass," as well as "hell," "damn," "sucks," "boob," "oh my God," etc.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

The Sony brand is displayed several times (unsurprising, since it's a Sony film); other brands briefly shown include Instagram, Purell hand sanitizer, Nike, Mercedes-Benz, Metallica, Chrysler Pacifica.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

In one scene the teens (as their adult avatars) all drink blended margaritas, but two of them spit it out. One gets drunk (because he's half the size of his regular self).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a new take on 1995's Jumanji . This time, instead of entering a board game, the players enter a video game. The popular stars, including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson , Kevin Hart , Jack Black , and Karen Gillan , are likely to appeal to audiences of all ages. Expect some swearing (mostly "s--t" and "ass"), as well as action violence -- the main characters each die multiple times within the game (but they're regenerated quickly) -- and a couple of jump scares. Characters kiss and flirt awkwardly, and there are several references to dating, experience, and the humor of having a penis (one of the female teens is in a male avatar for most of the movie). There are also references to how girls/women can "distract men" with their attention and body, which doesn't send a great message to girls. That said, The Rock's character's body is also objectified. Still, there are positive themes here related to teamwork, empathy, selflessness, and communication, making this an easy pick for families who enjoy action adventures -- especially if they saw the original movie or read the Chris Van Allsburg book on which both films are based. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (149)
• Kids say (224)

Based on 149 parent reviews

J:WJ - 2 Thumbs Up!!! :)

It could of been excellent, what's the story.

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is an updated adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's picture book , this time turning the life-changing board game into a video game. The movie opens in 1996, when a teenager's father gives him the Jumanji board game. When he bemoans aloud that nobody plays with board games anymore, it magically transforms into a video game, which he gets sucked into. Fast-forward to the present, and four high schoolers are sent to detention on the same day: self-absorbed "hot popular girl" Bethany ( Madison Iseman ), bookish Martha (Morgan Turner), nerdy Spencer ( Alex Wolff ), and his childhood friend turned football star Fridge (Ser'Darius Blain). While serving detention, Fridge and Spencer find the Jumanji game in an old donation box and convince the girls to play. After they each choose an avatar, they're immediately pulled into the game, where Spencer is transformed into superhero-sized archeologist Smolder Bravestone ( Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson ), Fridge is Bravestone's diminutive sidekick zoologist Moose Finbar ( Kevin Hart ), Martha is "killer of men" vixen Ruby Roundhouse ( Karen Gillan ), and Bethany is cartographer Professor Shelly Overton ( Jack Black ). To get out of the game, the foursome must work together to save Jumanji from the control of the evil Van Pelt ( Bobby Cannavale ) -- before any of them lose all of their three assigned lives.

Is It Any Good?

This crowd-pleasing reboot may not be earth-shatteringly good, but it benefits from its stars' irresistible comedic and action charm. At this point, there's not a movie that The Rock doesn't make better by his presence. Because of his size, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has a lot of wink-wink nods to his smoldering looks and seemingly invincible body -- which are even funnier because he has to play being amazed by his own strength, considering he's actually the lanky, nerdy Spencer inside. All of the adult actors do a fine job portraying the insecure, horrified, or awed teens controlling their avatar bodies. And the young actors who bookend the movie are believable as two nerds and two popular kids thrown together for an intense, unexpected adventure.

Hart's and Black's characters will naturally get the biggest laughs -- mostly joking at their own expense. Considering that the 5-foot-4 Hart is literally a foot shorter than Blain, prepare for an onslaught of height jokes. Women may cringe at Bethany's (as played by Black) "flirting class" to teach the Hermione-esque Martha how to manipulate men by sparkling like an anime character, but watching Black give this lesson in a falsetto is admittedly quite funny. At least Martha voices her indignation at her crop top and short-shorts, which she astutely points out make no sense as an explorer's outfit. Director Jake Kasdan definitely isn't creating anything new here, and the male leads are all playing to their established strengths, but the character-within-a-character setup is entertaining enough to make audiences cheer, jump out of their seats, and even laugh aloud in this mashup of Jumanji , The Breakfast Club , and Avatar .

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how each of the characters becomes a role model in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle , and which character strengths they exhibit throughout the movie.

What did you think of the talk regarding how girls/women can use their bodies and attention to "distract" men? What message does that send? Is it OK because a male body is also objectified? Why or why not?

Talk about the violence in the movie. Did it change the impact knowing the characters were inside a game?

Talk about social media and how difficult it is for Bethany, in particular, to be without her phone. Do you think teens rely too heavily on their phones and devices ?

What's the value of knowing how to play video games? What do multiplayer role-playing games teach you? What are your favorite games?

Movie Details

• In theaters : December 20, 2017
• On DVD or streaming : March 20, 2018
• Cast : Dwayne The Rock Johnson , Karen Gillan , Kevin Hart , Jack Black
• Director : Jake Kasdan
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Black actors
• Studio : Columbia Pictures
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Adventures
• Character Strengths : Communication , Teamwork
• Run time : 119 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : adventure action, suggestive content and some language
• Last updated : April 16, 2024

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Movie Review: Jumanji: The Next Level

Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan return for another magical, dangerous and surprisingly profane journey into the fantasy video game realm of Jumanji. (PG-13)

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‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ Review: The Sequel Has Fun and Games

The new installment cleverly updates the premise of the original and thrives on its talented cast.

I’m not a huge fan of the original Jumanji . I rewatched it last year on a plane to the set of the sequel, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle , and not much about it held up other than Robin Williams ’ funny and heartwarming performance. To give the film a sequel isn’t exactly treading on sacred ground, and to his credit, director Jake Kasdan and the screenwriters have found a clever way to not only update Jumanji , but make you invested in new characters and their adventure. Although the action sequences are a bit rote and it always feels like the movie could go further with its satire of video games, the film succeeds thanks to its outstanding cast who have excellent comedic chemistry. Although the story proceeds pretty much how you expect, Welcome to the Jungle shows there’s definitely life still left in Jumanji .

Nerdy Spencer ( Alex Wolff ), jock Fridge ( Ser’Darius Blain ), self-absorbed Bethany ( Madison Iseman ), and aloof Martha ( Morgan Turner ) all find themselves in detention for various reasons, and while they’re cleaning up the school’s basement, they find an old video game system with a cartridge for Jumanji. The high-schoolers power on the system and end up getting sucked into the game where they take on the avatars they selected: Dr. Smolder Bravestone ( Dwayne Johnson ), Moose Finbar ( Kevin Hart ), Dr. Shelley Oberon ( Jack Black ), and Ruby Roundhouse ( Karen Gillan ), respectively. Although they look and sound completely different, they have the same personalities and now the game has tasked them with returning a jewel to a Jaguar statue. The only way to escape the game and survive is to complete the task, so the four students try to survive the jungle of Jumanji with various threats bearing down on them.

Turning Jumanji from a board game to a video game and then putting the characters inside the game rather than bringing the game to the outside world is a smart move, and one that feels timely since video games have become so prevalent in our culture. That’s not to say that they weren’t around in 1995—in the film, the game “sees” a PlayStation (the opening 10 minutes feels like a PlayStation ad) and transforms from a board game to game cartridge—but video game tropes have become widely known by this point. And yet there are still times where Jumanji has to grind to a halt to explain certain aspects of a video game and gums up the satire. You’ll have Spencer/Bravestone explaining to the other characters (and the audience) what an “NPC” or a “cut scene” is, and it all feels so close to working, but the movie is struggling to balance jokes for people who know video games and those who have never picked up a controller. It feels a bit unnecessary to make these explanations since pretty much everyone plays games on their phones now, and it’s not like the original had to slow down to explain how a board game works.

One everything gets explained, Jumanji settles into a rhythm that just lets the characters shine. Yes, there are “lives” and “levels”, but rather than go deep on video game jokes, the movie gets comfortable with its characters and lets the humor from those relationships. Johnson and Hart are basically just doing another variation on their dynamic from Central Intelligence where Johnson is the muscular nerd and Hart is diminutive yet confident, but it still works. Meanwhile, Black makes a meal of playing a teenage girl and owns every scene that he’s in while still giving Bethany a real arc. Meanwhile, Gillan is surprisingly good (I never watched Doctor Who so I’m not as familiar with her body of work) and really nails the comic elements of her character.

Where the movie tends to drag are the set pieces. It’s not that Kasdan does a good or bad job of developing them as much as they just lack tension. You know that the characters will make their way through, and the movie doesn’t do enough to make use of the characters’ special abilities to provide a spark to the action scenes. Because the movie lives or dies with its comedy and the characters aren’t cracking as many jokes during an action scene, Jumanji goes limp when it’s time for a set piece. You start checking your watch, wondering when we can get back to the characters bouncing off each other.

It’s a nice surprise that a Jumanji sequel—something that, if we’re being honest, we didn’t really need or ask for—ended up as a nice, funny, worthwhile family film that has great performances. I don’t know if we’ll need another Jumanji movie after this one, but it’s certainly an amusing ride while you’re on it.

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Jumanji: The Next Level Reviews

Great family fun that leans into the solid performances by Jack Black (as always), Dwayne Johnson (laughing at himself), Kevin Hart, Nick Jonas, and Awkwafina as they explore the film's playful and adventurous spirit with humor. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 28, 2022

Jumanji: The Next Level has multigenerational appeal, and Id suggest grandparents will enjoy its much as the kids. I suspect many more levels to come.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 12, 2022

You’re in luck if you liked the first film, as Jumanji: The Next Level feels almost identical to it. It’s a blessing and a curse, but thankfully more on the blessing side of things.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | May 19, 2022

And against all the odds, Jumanji: The Next Level is great, possibly even better than the previous film. Scrap that, it IS better than the previous film.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 10, 2021

Jumanji: The Next Level disproves the law of diminishing returns with sequels thanks to a bevy of humor, action, and actors exploring their full capabilities.

Full Review | Feb 17, 2021

Goes the way of so many other sequels, replacing the original charm with a story that is larger and louder but not as engaging.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 30, 2021

An unimaginative, paint-by-numbers film that avoids originality like a stampeding ostrich and reminds audiences that this is merely a re-run of The Dwayne and Kevin Show.

Full Review | Jan 28, 2021

An unfortunate step down from the hilarious original, the performances have weakened and the plot has become overly complicated, but it still has plenty of laughs.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 16, 2020

Feels as if it was written by people who don't play video games.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Dec 7, 2020

The effect works for about a half-hour before wearing on your patient soul.

Full Review | Nov 10, 2020

It is the level of energy that these performances bring that keeps this whole business rolling along throughout the familiar plot mechanics.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 28, 2020

Delivers enough subtle changes to the formula that it feels like these characters are more than justified in returning for another adventure.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 | Aug 15, 2020

The plot seriously needs more focus, but this is still a level up from Welcome to the Jungle and again makes the right call in letting the cast do the hard work.

Full Review | Original Score: 3 / 5 | Jul 28, 2020

Enlivened by a deft combination of nifty special effects, calibrated human emotions and pulse-pounding action [Jumanji: The Next Level] does take the game up a few notches.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 14, 2020

The best parts of Jumanji: The Next Level has nothing to do with the plot or even the action scenes. It has all to do with these actors getting a chance to have fun and play around with their performances.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jul 8, 2020

They've found that perfect franchise formula, one open enough where you can play around with the elements without messing up the core structure.

Full Review | Jun 27, 2020

Jumanji: The Next Level successfully puts a fresh and inventive spin on what it accomplished in Welcome to the Jungle...

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 25, 2020

See Jumanji: The Next Level for an escapist ride into a tame fantasy.

Full Review | May 4, 2020

Family-friendly actions really don't come any better than Jumanji: The Next Level. Every member of the family from kids to grandparents will find something to like.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 22, 2020

"Jumanji: The Next Level" turns out to be a better-than-expected sequel.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 14, 2020

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Jumanji: The Next Level review – an upbeat, frenetic adventure

N o one was more surprised than I when Jake Kasdan’s 2017 romp Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle managed to squeeze smart new thrills from the premise of Chris Van Allsburg’s 1981 children’s book, first filmed in 1995. While Joe Johnston’s Jumanji (starring Robin Williams) had featured fantastical creatures escaping from the titular board-game to run wild in Brantford, New Hampshire, Kasdan’s “continuation of the story” sent four young players into a video game, where they battled a series of challenges in order to earn a safe passage home. The result was a crowd-pleasing romp that combined the school detention premise of The Breakfast Club with boisterous CG action in sprightly fashion.

With a worldwide box-office gross just this side of a billion dollars, a sequel became an industrial necessity – never an inspiring situation. It’s a relief, therefore, to report that Jumanji: The Next Level keeps things upbeat and lively, thanks in no small part to the introduction of two counterintuitively revivifying characters – curmudgeonly old codgers whose gripes and aches provide a jolly counterpoint to the teen angst that fired Kasdan’s previous instalment.

Danny DeVito and Danny Glover are, respectively, Eddie and Milo – former restaurateurs nursing a 15-year-old estrangement beef. When Eddie’s disillusioned grandson Spencer (Alex Wolff) ventures back into the Jumanji video game with dreams of once again becoming handsome adventurer Dr Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), his somewhat distant friends are forced to follow. Unfortunately, Eddie and Milo are unwittingly dragged along for the ride, swept into an alternative universe in which Jurgen the Brutal ( Game of Thrones ’s Rory McCann) has stolen Jumanji’s life-giving jewel, threatening its kingdoms with drought and darkness. “We’re in a ‘video game’,” the youngsters try to explain to the old farts, to little avail.

More confusing still is the randomness of the in-game avatar identities assigned to each player. This time, the body-swap choices of the first film are shuffled and multiplied, allowing our adult stars to experiment with a wider range of comically mimicked characters. Thus we get to enjoy the Rock doing a loopy impression of Danny DeVito, experiencing the thrill of huge biceps and fully mobile hips (“I’m back!”); and Kevin Hart channelling Glover’s laconic verbal delivery as Franklin “Mouse” Finbar, drawling: “Did I just kill Eddie by talking too slow – like he always said I would?”

Upping the ante is Awkwafina as new game-character Ming Fleetfoot, whose appearance poses both questions and answers as the narrative (penned by Kasdan with returning co-writers Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg) jumbles identities like T-shirts in a tumble dryer. Like some super-charged kaleidoscopic rehash of Freaky Friday , Jumanji: The Next Level takes polymorphous pleasure in its frenetic scrambling of age, gender and racial boundaries, yet somehow manages to keep us up to speed with who is in which body at any given moment – just about. It’s a credit to the film-makers that a one-sided conversation between a cat burglar and a hybrid horse can still pack an emotional punch, a feat of which Polish surrealist director Walerian Borowczyk would have been rightly proud.

There are a few false steps. Some of the bawdier gags about horse dicks and eunuch’s testicles strike a duff note, and there’s a bagginess to the third act that afflicts so many FX-heavy blockbusters. Yet for the most part the set pieces (which include giant ostriches chasing dune buggies and airborne encounters with snarling monkeys) have an enjoyable grandeur, emphasised by Henry Jackman’s score, which cheekily invokes Maurice Jarre’s Lawrence of Arabia theme during an early desert sequence.

As before, it’s the characters that shine through; from Karen Gillan’s ludicrously attired Ruby Roundhouse, whose ass-kicking new skills include nunchucks (once blanket-banned from UK screens by the British Board of Film Classification), to Jack Black’s map-reading Dr “Shelley” Oberon, delightfully reunited with Madison Iseman’s likable mean girl persona. We even get a reprise of Baby, I Love Your Way, a track that raised a big laugh in Welcome to the Jungle and provokes a knowing chuckle here.

Whether this winning formula can be repeated yet another time remains a moot point. An end-credits sequence invokes the “real world” adventures of yore, paving the way for further instalments, but I hope these characters remain true to their promise to “never go back again”. It’s a promise they’ve already broken once, and somehow managed to get away with it. Next time, I doubt I’ll be quite so forgiving.

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• Dwayne Johnson (The Rock)
• Karen Gillan

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Jumanji: The Next Level Reviews Are In, See What Critics Are Saying

If this year has proven anything, it’s that reboots are hard and reviving a property with a recognizable name is not a guaranteed recipe for success. That’s what makes 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle such a remarkable feat. The near $1 billion grosser was a massive success, introducing delightful new characters played by a fun cast, while putting a new spin on the Jumanji mythos. Now, for those to seek to find a way to leave their world behind, the game is back with Jumanji : The Next Level .

The sequel film sees the players from the first film sucked back into the game where they will face new challenges and the fate of Jumanji will once again be in their hands. Director Jake Kasdan returns, along with the all-star cast of Dwayne Johnson , Kevin Hart , Karen Gillan and Jack Black . Newcomers Danny DeVito, Danny Glover and Awkwafina join them for an adventure that takes them out of the jungle and to new levels of danger. But does Jumanji: The Next Level take this franchise to the next level?

The first reviews for Jumanji: The Next Level are now up and it seems that the sequel succeeds in the same ways that its predecessor did, while failing to truly distinguish itself. In his 3-star review of The Next Level , CinemaBlend’s Dirk Libbey said:

It still has ‘fun and entertaining’ going for it, but in a way that feels much more familiar and safe, rather than surprising.

So while Dirk enjoyed the characters and the comedy and all the things that worked in the first film, he felt that Jumanji: The Next Level basically operated on the same level. It added a bit here and there while failing to revolutionize things and give audiences something truly new in the way Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle did in relation to the original Jumanji . In a sense, enjoyable, but unremarkable.

This sentiment, that Jumanji: The Next Level was fun but not as special and surprising as Welcome to the Jungle was echoed by Empire’ s Ben Travis in his review. He also gave The Next Level three stars out of five and wrote:

It doesn’t have the surprise factor of the last film and sometimes feels rough around the edges, but The Next Level pushes its body-swap antics even further to deliver just as many laughs.

Many of the critics have found that Jumanji: The Next Level has both good and bad on offer and how they weigh those good and bad elements ultimately determines whether or not the scale tips to a positive review or a negative one. For The Hollywood Reporter ’s John DeFore, the good outweighs the bad, but the idea is running thin. He wrote:

This installment is a clear case of diminishing returns, but enjoyable action set pieces and a surprise or two near the end should keep parental grousing to a minimum.

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While the action and the humor were enough for some critics, for others Jumanji: The Next Level was a game not worth playing. Slash Film ’s Josh Spiegel gave the sequel a five out of 10 and while acknowledging that The Next Level isn’t boring, he said:

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The Next Level is otherwise sweaty in its attempts to make its real-world characters and their choices remotely compelling, and their video-game exploits exciting. If there’s a third movie, they should figure out the story to start.

Although some critics found Jumanji: The Next Level to be a bit uninspired after Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle , others found it to be just different enough to stand as a very good sequel to very good reboot. In his review, Forbes ’ Scott Mendelson said of Welcome to the Jungle :

It keeps what worked about the last film and finds new (and ever-changing) ways to switch up the status quo in order to make what could have been a mere rehash feel fresh and unpredictable.

Lastly is IndieWire ’s Kate Erbland, who gave Jumanji: The Next Level a “C+.” Although she dinged Jake Kasdan’s film for its lack of originality, she still thought it justified the continued existence of the Jumanji franchise, saying:

It’s a fitting followup, and while not as original as its predecessors, makes a strong claim for the series to keep earning extra lives.

There's a good chance Jumanji will get those extra lives. The film is tracking for a strong opening weekend before the franchise once again faces off with Star Wars next week with the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker . Fortunately, it looks like Jumanji: The Next Level will benefit from largely positive reviews and potentially good word of mouth. As of now Jumanji: The Next Level sits at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 31 reviews.

Jumanji: The Next Level opens on December 13. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what movies you can look forward to next year.

Nick grew up in Maryland has degrees in Film Studies and Communications. His life goal is to walk the earth, meet people and get into adventures. He’s also still looking for The Adventures of Pete and Pete season 3 on DVD if anyone has a lead.

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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Is Good, Clean Fun

Looking for a lively, wholesome movie to see with the family this holiday season? The obvious choice is The Greatest Showman , the musical that demonstrates how circus impresario P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) didn’t exploit “freaks” by charging people money to point at them and jeer — he actually gave them a sense of self-worth! My colleague Emily Yoshida dissects the “incredibly specious empowerment metaphor holding up this rinky-dink tent” with painful accuracy — and should get combat pay for attempting to transcribe the numbskull lyrics. Move on to the next screen at the multiplex (plug your ears if you’re passing The Greatest Showman ) and see Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle . The movie has amusingly broad performances; good, bloodless scares (the characters die horribly — but have multiple lives); and self-empowering life lessons too bland to be specious. You could do far worse.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a sequel to and not a remake of the agreeable 1995 Jumanji (starring Robin Williams and the young Kirsten Dunst) based on Chris Van Allsburg’s wonderful 1981 book. In the 1995 film, players of the mysterious board game Jumanji found their reality invaded by sundry animal, human, and insect predators. In the 21st-century version, four very different kinds of teenagers in detention — yes, it’s a Breakfast Club redux — get whisked into a jungle cyberworld where they find themselves inhabiting wildly inapposite avatars.

The upshot is that Dwayne Johnson (playing a nerd who finds himself in Dwayne Johnson’s body) gazes on his own humongous biceps with the same kind of amazement that the rest of us do, while Karen Gillan (the repository of the brainy misfit girl) looks down at her impossibly long legs as if thinking, “How do I walk on these things?” Jack Black (inhabited by a blonde high-school girl) simpers in horror at his own squat reflection, while the diminutive pop-top Kevin Hart — the avatar of a black kid built like a linebacker — screams, “Where’s the rest of me?”

The plot is by the numbers, but that’s okay since the characters are inside a game in which the plot is by the numbers. They need to work together to survive various lethal obstacles (rhinos, hippos, wildcats, Bobby Cannavale) and restore a precious gem to its rightful place atop a mountain. If they don’t, they’ll be stuck in the game forever. The proof is in the form of Nick Jonas as the avatar of a guy who has been there since 1996, when someone evidently found the Jumanji board game that was tossed away in Jumanji .

If director Jake Kasdan will never be confused for an action stylist, he’ll never be taken for a stumblebum, either. He hits his marks. And who cares if the CGI looks artificial? It’s an artificial world. Actually, I wish that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle had looked even more artificial — that Kasdan had pushed the boundaries. Why stick with the jungle when there could have been multiple settings — Camelot, the Old West, outer space? Maybe those will be the sequels. Can the filmmakers come up with new ways to showcase Johnson’s pecs?

It’s fun to watch Johnson use the sight of his own body to teach himself not to run screaming from peril and get up the nerve to kiss Gillan, who has to learn to smolder like a femme fatale, as well as come to terms with her sudden talent for martial arts. (Gillan is a superb physical comedian — it’s as if she’s standing outside herself watching her own body kick ass.) All the characters have to learn that they “only get one life,” even though they actually get three, which comes off as a mixed message. The Greatest Showman lyricists would have tried to make a song out of that:

You only get one life/

Or maybe three/

So go and ride your light/

Into a tree/

’Cause you’ll come back again/

And get eaten by a rhino/

La-la-la albino …

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Review: ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ Has Dwayne Johnson as a Nerd

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By Glenn Kenny

• Dec. 19, 2017

Very few remakes, sequels or franchise reboots have signaled their desperation to connect quite as nakedly as “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” does. The movie opens in 1996 with a young man finding the now-discarded board game that wreaked such havoc on its players in the 1995 Robin Williams movie . The game winds up in the room of a teenager who ignores it, because who wants to play a board game? Overnight, the board game magically turns into a video game cartridge. And upon being inserted into the teen’s console, something strange happens.

The movie cuts to the present day and introduces four archetypal, irritating teen characters. There’s the smart and awkward Spencer; his former best friend “Fridge,” now a high school football star who makes Spencer do his homework; the selfie-obsessed popular girl, Bethany; and Martha, who’s a diluted variation of Allison, the smartest and angriest girl in the room in “The Breakfast Club.” And much like in that movie, these kids all get detention together.

At first, I presumed that the film’s increased attention on these teenagers was to make us that much more eager for the stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black to show up. There’s good news and bad news: We meet the marquee names shortly after detention. Only they are portraying those same irritating teen characters.

I’ll explain. The actual teens discover the discarded video game console in the detention room. They plug it in, the game boots up, and the kids choose their characters. Then they get sucked into the game, where they, among other things, meet the fellow who got sucked into the game 20 years before.

The movie derives its humor, such as it is, from the teens’ avatar choices. The nerd gets to be Dwayne Johnson. The big football player gets to be Kevin Hart (who, it is frequently noted, is not tall). The shy, awkward Martha gets to be an expert in dance-fighting (played by Karen Gillan). And the selfie-obsessed girl gets to be, surprise, Jack Black. The crew must navigate a mission that involves a large gem and a villain (Bobby Cannavale) who has insects crawling in and out of his mouth more regularly than is considered normal.

Their adventure often asks, “What would Steven Spielberg do?” It then answers poorly. (The movie’s director, Jake Kasdan, happens to be the son of Lawrence Kasdan, who worked as a screenwriter with Mr. Spielberg on “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”) The performances by Mr. Johnson, Mr. Hart and Mr. Black seem informed by the conviction that if they amuse themselves, they will also amuse others. They are not entirely wrong, but they are also not sufficiently right. Ms. Gillan, the lesser-known quantity of the group, has to work harder as the geeky teen comes to enjoy living, even if temporarily, in a bombshell adult package. She does commendable work both satirizing, and also fulfilling, a sexist conception.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Rated PG-13 mostly for the sort of humor that ensues when a teenage girl finds herself in the body of Jack Black. Running time: 1 hour 59 minutes.

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Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle – 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray review

Is this 4K effort worth a trip to the jungles of Jumanji?

If you're of a particular age, you may recall the original Jumanji film with fondness. Back in 1995, the idea of a board game coming to life was exciting – but less so in these days of virtual reality and CGI. So this belated sequel ditches those dusty board games for video games.

Welcome To The Jungle sees four high school kids serving detention when they come across an old video game console. While playing the game, they are transported to Jumanji and given the quest of saving the realm. Failure to do so will risk being trapped inside the game… forever.

MORE: Best new films 2018 – trailers and release dates

Twenty-two years is a long time for a sequel, if you don't count 2005's sort-of-sequel Zathura . But with Dwayne Johnson, aka 'The Rock', leading the action, there's a fun time to had with Welcome To The Jungle .

The forgettable opening doesn't initially inspire a great deal of confidence, but does at least flesh out the rather clichéd characters: the geek, the jock, the pretty girl and the anti-social loner. But once they arrive in Jumanji, the film starts to reel you in.

Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan play the in-game avatars of Alex Wolf’s Spencer, Ser’Darius Blain’s Fridge, Madison Iseman’s Bethany and Morgan Turner’s Martha respectively. Each avatar has a particular power and skill set that comes into play over the course of the film.

From there, it becomes a standard story of four people with little in common, who come to resolve their differences. The potential for a sappy undercurrent is always present, but the film has a heartfelt quality that's hard to dismiss.

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There are few genuine laugh-out-loud moments, but the film does frequently tickle the funny bone. And the camaraderie between the actors means it's never boring when they’re on screen.

MORE: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray – all the 4K discs on sale and coming soon

There are times where the film gets its feet into a tangle and trips up. The mechanics of the game, regarding the fate of one character in particular, is illogical. The ending is so saccharine you may want to book an appointment with your dentist, and it also lacks tension or an element of danger.

As the central villain, Bobby Cannavale goes big with his performance, but otherwise isn’t given much to do. The action scenes are enjoyably ridiculous (sign us up for dance fighting lessons) and the use of video game rules to create some dramatic stakes is smart.

Jumanji is unashamedly simple in its terrain. The main cast is engaging – Jack Black is a lot of fun, playing what amounts to an image-conscious teenager stuck in the body of an overweight adult.

There’s an old school, back-to-basics feel about the film, with the onus on character rather than action. It may be modest in its goals, but the results are pretty entertaining.

MORE: The What Hi-Fi? archive of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray reviews

Tested with Cambridge CXUHD and Samsung QE55Q9FN 4K TV

Welcome To The Jungle was shot at 3.4K resolution and mastered theatrically at 2K.

The upscaled image features better defined colours and punchier skin tones. Certainly in the case of Johnson's Dr. Smolder Bravestone, his complexion has more presence to it.

As you'd expect, the 4K HDR exerts tighter control over the brighter and darker aspects of the picture. It's more nuanced and colourful in its appearance, as well as having greater accuracy in the various tones and textures in a scene.

Contrast gets a boost too. The clouds in the scene after their first encounter with Rhys Darby's Nigel have more definition to them than on the Blu-ray.

The luminescence of colours is more vividly conveyed, especially in the scene where the characters are sucked into Jumanji. Detail sees an improvement too, with more fine detail in the grease and dirt of characters' clothing.

The 4K disc includes both HDR10 and Dolby Vision encodes. We can only attest to the HDR10 , but it's a satisfying presentation nonetheless.

MORE: 11 of the best 4K Blu-rays to test your system

Tested using Denon AVR-X4400H , PMC Twenty 23 5.1 with KEF R50 modules (5.1.2 Dolby Atmos set-up)

Once we enter Jumanji, the sense of height and space in the track is immediately apparent. Detail levels are very good, with flapping bird wings and jungle sounds communicated with clarity in the surrounds and overheads.

The expanded height Atmos affords is used in an inventive way. When characters respawn, the 'ping' sound of their re-entry is clearly communicated in the height channels. It's followed by a weighty thud as they land.

Action scenes are alive with detail. Take the set-piece where the heroes have to rescue a jewel from a white rhinoceros. There's good use of low frequency effects in the stampeding thud, as well as able use of surrounds and Atmos to communicate the frantic nature of the sequence.

Whether it's the rumbling drums of Jumanji or a missile flying past, the panning of effects are crystal clear to track. Henry Jackman's light adventure score is placed in the surrounds and height channels and adds to the track's sense of space. Dialogue is clearly rendered and for the most part, placed in the centre channel.

The Atmos track really adds to this film's sense of fun, using the extra space and height to good effect.

MORE: 10 of the best film scenes to test surround sound

Welcome To The Jungle is up there with the better video game movies that aren't based on an actual computer game.

Admittedly, in light of the lengthy list of poor video or boardgame adaptations, that’s the faintest of praise. But thanks to its charm and engaging tone, this film ends up a winner.

The 4K HDR disc is a satisfying effort, with a picture that's a fair boost over the Blu-ray, and an immersive and exciting Atmos track too. If you enjoy the film, the UHD presentation will only enhance your experience.

Duration : 119m

Picture : 2.39:1, 4K 2160p

HDR : HDR10

Audio : Dolby TrueHD 7.1/Dolby Atmos

Subtitles : English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Croatian, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Korean, Malay, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese

Kob began his career at What Hi-Fi? , starting in the dusty stockroom before rising up the ranks to join the editorial and production team as the Buyer’s Guide editor. Experienced in both magazine and online publishing, he now runs the TV & audio section at Trusted Reviews where he keeps a beady eye on all the latest comings and goings in the hi-fi and home cinema market. 

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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Parent Guide

Although the constant peril and life-threatening sequences will likely be too intense for little ones, teens may enjoy the action and positive messages..

In this sequel to the 1995 movie Jumanji (starring Robin Williams), a group of teenagers get sucked into a video game version of the magical board game. This time the players control the characters (Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black) like they are aviators. And the only way back to reality is to beat the game.

Release date December 20, 2017

Run Time: 119 minutes

Official Movie Site

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by donna gustafson.

Many people can relate to the feeling of being immersed in an activity, but the movie Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle depicts the experience literally – not just figuratively.

While doing detention time in a storeroom at their high school, nerdy Spencer (Alex Wolff), football star Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), non-conformist Martha (Morgan Turner) and boy-crazy Bethany (Madison Iseman) find an old video game console still loaded with a cassette. None of the four are familiar with the title Jumanji, yet playing it seems more fun than doing their assignment to sort discarded magazines.

Following its usual format, Jumanji vacuums up the quartet, and places them within its jungle environment. Each of them now find themselves within the body of their game character: Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) is the invincible hero, Fridge (Kevin Hart) is his mousy sidekick, Martha (Karen Gillan) is a sexy, mix-martial-arts fighter, and Bethany (Jack Black) is a pudgy, middle-aged man. After a quick introduction to the rules and objectives of their quest, presented by a tour guide (Rhys Darby) who appears to be part of the game’s program, the group is sent on their way. And whether they want to play or not, the only way back to their real lives is to beat the challenges of the virtual world.

The script has fun with this concept, deriving humor from the juxtaposition of the characters’ personalities with those of their avatars. For instance, Spencer is usually fearful but his character is always brave, Fridge is a big tough guy who is relegated to a small, wimpy body, Martha lacks confidence and is especially self-conscious in her midriff-baring tank top and tiny shorts, and Bethany can’t stop being a flirt even if she looks like a man.

Just like first-person video games, this one pits its adventurers against increasingly dangerous situations. These include threats from animals, weapon-brandishing bad-guys and a nasty villain (Van Pelt played by Bobby Cannavale) who is crawling with large insects (they even slither into his ear and out of his mouth). Van Pelt is perhaps the creepiest part of the production, although the constant peril and life-threatening action sequences will likely be too intense for little ones as well.

Amidst profanity shrapnel, some teen drinking and the glossing over of serious infractions like cheating on homework and lying to parents, this movie tries to teach the importance of team work. The characters also are forced to face their fears, examine some of their hurtful interactions and consider changing their behavior – if and when they get back to their former lives. Thanks to these commendable moral messages, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle isn’t just all fun and games.

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Donna Gustafson

Jumanji: welcome to the jungle rating & content info.

Why is Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle rated PG-13? Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for adventure action, suggestive content and some language.

Page last updated March 20, 2018

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Parents' Guide

When four students face detention, the school principal asks them some important questions: “Who are you? Who do you want to be?” He also reminds them that they have only one life to live, and only they can choose how they will live it. What do you think of his counsel? Are there choices you are making with your life that don’t reflect who you really want to be?

How much respect do the characters have for one another when they first become trapped in the game? How do their attitudes change over time? What experiences help them see each other in new ways? What do they learn about their strengths and weaknesses?

News About "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle"

Learn more about author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg and his book Jumanji. Jumanji: Remastered With the sequel Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle opening in theaters on December 20, 2017, Sony is remastering the 1995 movie Jumanji for home video (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital, Remastered Blu-ray + Digital or DVD). It will release on December 5, 2017. From the Studio: In a brand new Jumanji adventure, four high school kids discover an old video game console and are drawn into the game's jungle setting, literally becoming the adult avatars they chose. What they discover is that you don't just play Jumanji - you must survive it. To beat the game and return to the real world, they'll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago, and change the way they think about themselves - or they'll be stuck in the game forever, to be played by others without break. Written by Sony Pictures

The most recent home video release of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle movie is March 20, 2018. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Release Date: 20 March 2018 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle releases to home video (Blu-ray/Digital Copy) with the following extras: - “Jumanji, Jumanji” Music Video by Jack Black and Nick Jonas - Gag Reel - Five Featurettes

Related home video titles:

Related news about jumanji: welcome to the jungle.

2017 Holiday Movie Round-up

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All 4 'Jumanji' Movies, Ranked

1995 saw the release of the fantasy adventure movie Jumanji . Starring the late great Robin Williams , the film features a bold and original plot that mixes fantasy, action, adventure, and a heartwarming message about family and growing up. Jumanji was a surprising box office hit, spawning an animated series and a live-action film spin-off before receiving two indirect sequels in the 2010s.

Although only four films have been produced in the franchise, Jumanji is a successful and beloved saga that has successfully reinvented itself to stand the test of time. The films are original, funny, and emotional, making for excellent family entertainment that is both fascinating and emotionally resonant. Each film in the Jumanji series is good in its own right, but a few are objectively better , thanks to their refreshing approach, witty humor, and the performances of their ever-reliable ensembles.

'Zathura: A Space Adventure' (2005)

Director: jon favreau.

From Iron Man director Jon Favreau came Zathura: A Space Adventure . A standalone spin-off of Jumanji based on the eponymous novel by Jumanji author Chris Van Allsburg , the film replaces the jungle setting for space and follows two siblings who find themselves in an intergalactic adventure when they start paying a game whose dangers they can't possibly comprehend.

The main issue with Zathura is that it lacks a strong lead figure. While Jonah Bobo and a then-thirteen-year-old Josh Hutcherson are likable enough, the film lacks a Robin Williams-like leading man to guide the action. The siblings and their older sister, a delightfully awkward Kristen Stewart , are compelling enough, but they just can't support the story's weight by themselves, and a barely-there intervention from Dax Shepard didn't really help. Despite some truly impressive visual effects that capture the terrifying vastness of space and Jon Favreau's confident directing, Zathura feels small-stakes and limited, lacking the sense of danger that the original Jumanji had in spades . Zathura is by no means a bad movie, but compared to every other entry in this franchise, it can't help but feel like a letdown.

Release Date November 6, 2005

Cast Dax Shepard, Josh Hutcherson, Kristen Stewart, Jonah Bobo, Tim Robbins, Frank Oz

Runtime 101

Genres Family, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Writers John Kamps, Chris Van Allsburg, David Koepp

Rent on Amazon

'Jumanji: The Next Level' (2019)

Director: jake kasdan.

Dwayne Johnson , Jack Black , Kevin Hart , and Karen Gillan returned for Jumanji: The Next Level , the 2019 sequel to their near-1-billion-grossing 2017 hit Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle . The film sees the same teenagers become trapped in the Jumanji video game once more, joined by their old ally, Alex, and two unsuspecting companions: Spencer's elderly grandfather, Eddie, and his estranged friend, Milo.

Like its predecessor, The Next Level gets a ton of mileage out of casting its four likable leads in unexpected roles. The incredible Jack Black once again steals the show, but Johnson shows far more range than in any of his previous appearances. Embracing the absurdity of playing an older man trapped in the body of a hunk, Johnson steals many of the film's best moments with surprisingly sharp comedic timing. Similarly, Karen Gillan is at her best here , delivering another confident performance that keeps the whole thing grounded. Jumanji: The Next Level isn't as refreshing as its predecessors, but what it lacks in originality, it more than makes up in action and adventure thrills . It successfully entertains audiences of all ages and does what a second film in a franchise should: it leaves audiences longing for a third entry.

Jumanji: The Next Level

Release Date December 13, 2019

Cast Kevin Hart, Danny DeVito, Karen Gillan, Donald Glover, Awkwafina, Jack Black, Dwayne Johnson, Nick Jonas, Colin Hanks

Rating PG-13

Runtime 123 minutes

Genres Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Writers Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg

Watch on Starz

'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' (2017)

Revitalizing the Jumani saga seemed like a fool's errand. How could any film compete with the originals' legacy? However, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle doesn't try to, and that's why it works. The film follows four teenagers spending detention together. When they find a mysterious video game, they get pulled into the dangerous world of Jumanji, assuming the avatars of four archetypical video game protagonists.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is far sillier than the original 1995 movie, but that's good. The four main characters have incredible chemistry together, doing some genuinely heavy lifting to raise a funny but unsurprising screenplay. However, it's Jack Black who steals the movie with his performance as a teenage girl trapped in the body of an overweight scholar. A tremendously gifted comedian, Black does so much in the role, elevating what could easily be an offensive character and turning it into the film's heart. Beyond the performances, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle succeeds as a purely entertaining adventure movie , featuring grand action setpieces and convincing visual effects. It's funny and ridiculously rewatchable, qualities that make it a worthy successor to the 1995 original.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Release Date December 20, 2017

Cast Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Dwayne Johnson

Runtime 119 minutes

Genres Comedy, Action, Adventure

Writers Chris McKenna, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan

Watch on Hulu

'Jumanji' (1995)

Director: joe johnston.

In the '90s, few actors could compare to Robin Williams . The star of commercial juggernauts like Mrs. Doubtfire and acclaimed darlings like Dead Poets Society was already a two-time Oscar nominee and one of Hollywood's most bankable stars when he starred in Jumanji . The plot centered on two children, played by Bradley Pierce and future Oscar nominee Kirsten Dunst , who discover the seemingly inoffensive board game of Jumanji. However, it soon releases Alan Parrish, who's been stuck within Jumanji's violent world for decades, alongside incredible dangers that threaten to wreak havoc in the real world unless they beat the game.

Benefitting from a truly original premise, groundbreaking visual effects, and a tremendously charming performance from Williams, Jumanji was a box-office hit despite mixed reviews. However, time has been kind to it, with many now considering it among the all-time best adventure movies. Beyond the flashy VFX, Jumanji is a classic coming-of-age story about growing up and bridging generational gaps . Williams, Dunst, Pierce, and the vastly underrated Bonnie Hunt make for an inspired team, supported by the scene-stealing David Alan Grier and Bebe Neuwirth and perfectly antagonized by '90s character actor Jonathan Hyde . Endlessly rewatchable and ridiculously quotable, Jumanji is a timeless '90s classic that only gets better with age .

Release Date December 15, 1995

Cast Bradley Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth, Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Jonathan Hyde, Bonnie Hunt

Runtime 104 minutes

Genres Family, Comedy, Adventure

Writers Chris Van Allsburg, Jim Strain, Greg Taylor, Jonathan Hensleigh

NEXT: The 10 Best Adventurers in Movies, Ranked

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Movie Review: ‘The Garfield Movie’ is a bizarre animated tale that’s not pur-fect in any way

This image released by Sony Pictures shows characters Odie, voiced by Harvey Guillén, from left, Vic, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, and Garfield, voiced by Chris Pratt, in a scene from the animated film “The Garfield Movie.” (Columbia Pictures/Sony via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows characters Vic, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, right, and Garfield, voiced by Chris Pratt, in a scene from the animated film “The Garfield Movie.” (Columbia Pictures/Sony via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Garfield, voiced by Chris Pratt, in a scene from the animated film “The Garfield Movie.” (Columbia Pictures/Sony via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows characters Jon, voiced by Nicholas Hoult, clockwise from left, Vic, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, and Garfield, voiced by Chris Pratt, in a scene from the animated film “The Garfield Movie.” (Columbia Pictures/Sony via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows characters Jon, voiced by Nicholas Hoult, left, and Garfield, voiced by Chris Pratt, in a scene from the animated film “The Garfield Movie.” (Columbia Pictures/Sony via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures shows characters Odie, voiced by Harvey Guillén, left, and Garfield, voiced by Chris Pratt, in a scene from the animated film “The Garfield Movie.” (Columbia Pictures/Sony via AP)

From left, Chris Pratt, Hannah Waddingham, Garfield and Jim Davis attend the premiere of “The Garfield Movie” on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Hannah Waddingham, right, poses for photographers during a photo call for the film ‘The Garfield Movie’ on Friday, May 10, 2024 in London. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, left, and Chris Pratt arrive at the premiere of “The Garfield Movie” on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Chris Pratt arrives at the premiere of “The Garfield Movie” on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Hannah Waddingham arrives at the premiere of “The Garfield Movie,” Sunday, May 19, 2024, at TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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If you catch the latest Garfield movie, you might not expect to find the famous orange feline at one point running from bad guys on the top of a speeding train. Lasagna eating? Sure. But any sort of cardio?

Then prepare for “The Garfield Movie,” a curious new animated attempt to monetize the comic icon again by giving him an origin story and then asking him to do things a galaxy away from what he does in the funny pages. It’s like if Snoopy ran an underground bare-knuckle fight club.

Chris Pratt voices the Monday-hating, self-centered hero and Samuel L. Jackson animates his long-lost father, who abandoned Garfield in an alley one rainy night, leading to lifelong trauma. That may explain his endless appetite, to fill the void of parental neglect. What does “The Garfield Movie” say about that idea? Are you kidding?

“The Garfield Movie,” directed by Mark Dindal, reunites Garfield and his not-so-savory dad — there’s no mention of a mom and there are shades of the plots from “Kung Fu Panda 3” and “Chicken Run” — as he gets caught up in a criminal plot to raid a corporate dairy and steal thousands of gallons of milk.

Sorry, what was that? Garfield is perhaps the most indoor cat in history and seeing him dodge massive chopping blades or boulders onscreen is just plain weird. Making it even weirder is that his partner Odie — traditionally a drooling idiot — is remade here as highly competent, perhaps even a savant. This is not canon.

The movie gets mildly amusing as it recreates the kind of vent-crawling, security guard-avoiding heist in the dairy along to the theme from “Mission: Impossible” and that’s largely because the gang is being directed by a bull voiced by Ving Rhames, a veteran of that franchise. There are also nods to “Top Gun”: I do my own stunts,” Garfield says. “Me and Tom Cruise.”

The script — by Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove and David Reynolds— grounds the movie firmly in today, with Garfield using food delivery phone apps and Bluetooth, watching Catflix and characters declaring that they are “self-actualized.” There’s also some pretty awkward product placement, like for Olive Garden, that may not send the message they wanted.

This is the part when we talk about food abuse. Garfield has a bit of a problem on this front, and the filmmakers more than lean into it. Thousands of pounds of junk food get inhaled by the tabby, but not salad. Heaven is described as an “all-you-can-eat buffet in the sky” and cheese is Garfield’s “love language.” It’s the laziest kind of writing.

From left, Chris Pratt, Hannah Waddingham, Garfield and Jim Davis in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

There’s a mini “Ted Lasso” reunion when Hannah Waddingham (playing a psychotic gang leader) and Brett Goldstein (as her henchman) appear, while Snoop Dogg has a cameo as the voice of a one-eyed cat and offers a song that runs over the credits.

The animation is pretty great — the backgrounds, at least. Ladders show rust and forests are lush, but then the main characters are a step or two less realized, more cartoonish. Jim Davis, who created Garfield, is an executive producer so he must be OK with all of this, a forgettable, unfunny animated slog. At one point, Garfield says “Bury me in cheese” and that seems a fitting final resting place for this cat’s film career.

“The Garfield Movie,” a Columbia Pictures release that opens in movie theaters Friday, is rated PG for “mild thematic elements, action and peril.” Running time: 101 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

MPAA Definition of PG: Parental guidance suggested.

Online: https://www.garfield.movie

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

Review: 'The Garfield Movie' feels like a cynical cash grab

The film turns the mouthy, shamelessly lazy Garfield into an action hero.

It’s hard out there for family audiences. First the quality deficit of last week’s "IF" and now the further descent of "The Garfield Movie," only in theaters and probably your first destination choice for kids over the Memorial holiday weekend. What a bummer.

This misbegotten misfire looks to score at the box office until dire word of mouth kills it. Why the letdown? "The Garfield Movie" is brand marketing from filmmakers who don’t even bother to hide the blatant product placement. Lacking inspiration and perspiration, this despairingly off-kilter toon looks like a movie, talks like a movie, but feels like a cynical cash grab.

All the elements are there. It’s an outdoor adventure for everyone’s favorite indoor cat. There’s Chris Pratt voicing Garfield, the tubby orange tabby who hates Mondays and loves lasagna. Samuel L. Jackson does the honors for his cool cat dad Vic.

What goes wrong? Start with the basic idea. Gone is the deadpan sarcasm of the comic strip that Jim Davis started in 1978 and continued in a syndicated TV series. The casual putdowns that Bill Murray built into two "Garfield" live-action movies from the aughts is also MIA.

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"The Garfield Movie," soon to be infamous for its bad decisions, turns the mouthy, shamelessly lazy Garfield into an action hero, voiced by Pratt with an energetic whoosh you hear in his Mario in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." What the whoosh is doing here defies understanding.

After a prologue showing Garfield abandoned as a kitten by dad Vic and adopted into a cushy life by the human and humane Jon Arbuckle (Nicholas Hoult), Garfield is off to the mischief races with Jon’s not-too-bright dog Odie (Harvey Guillén does the barks and whimpers).

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In no time, Garfield and Odie are kidnapped by the feline Jinx (Hannah Waddingham), a criminal crony of Vic’s who blames him for botching a milk heist that sent her to the pound. Having escaped, Jinx forces Vic, Garfield and Odie into a second robbery that intensifies the risk.

It’s doubtful that creator Davis and Garfield fans of the last half century would recognize the over-caffeinated kitty in these generic pyrotechnics directed by Mark Dindal ("The Emperor’s New Groove," "Chicken Little"). "I do my own stunts," brags Garfield, "me and Tom Cruise."

So there goes smartphone junkie Garfield (the better to order food), zipping around like a speed demon on a mission impossible that Cruise himself would envy as the tabby bends back a tree branch like a slingshot to shoot himself through the air and onto a speeding train.

Yikes! Who is this super kittycat? Did you ever imagine sleepyhead Garfield mixing it up with Jinx and her doggie criminal peeps, Roland (Brett Goldstein) and Nolan (Bowen Yang). It’s a wonder they didn’t put Garfield in a mask and pass him off as a Marvel superhero.

Credit the movie with tugging at the heartstrings by reuniting Garfield and his daddy. But the script by Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove and David Reynolds feels like like artificial intelligence cobbled it together from other, better movies (think "The Secret Life of Pets").

Nowhere to be seen is the cat who made a joke out of casual indifference. To enjoy "The Garfield Movie," it will help to be five years old or under, though even the toddler set is likely to cough up this recycled 101-minute hairball and move on. I suggest you do the same.

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Review: ‘IF,’ a movie about imaginary friends, requires suspension of disbelief — and a few more drafts

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There’s an existential question at the heart of “A Quiet Place” director John Krasinski’s new kid-friendly semi-animated movie “IF.” It’s a simple one, but it speaks to the limitless potential of a child’s imagination and it gets asked again and again: “What if?”

“IF” is also an acronym in the film for “imaginary friend,” and the movie spurs the audience to consider the impossible: What if our imaginary friends never disappear with time and memory, but remain in the world, purposeless and friendless?

It’s an interesting premise, and Krasinski has leveraged his hefty Hollywood contacts list to contribute voices to the imaginary friends. However, a cute premise and a bunch of stars are pretty much the only things going for “IF,” which is a surprisingly somber film with serious storytelling problems, because Krasinski hasn’t bothered to flesh out the fantastical world-building of his script.

It’s a bit ironic because the characters repeatedly talk about the importance of stories. In an opening narration, our heroine Bea (Cailey Fleming) describes how when she was a child, her mother would ask her for a story; later, she tells a story to her father (Krasinski) in one of the film’s climactic, cathartic moments. Krasinski insists that stories are important but never actually demonstrates why or how. And on a structural level, the storytelling of “IF” itself is a mess: a heartfelt but dramatically inert endeavor that whipsaws between tones ranging from whimsical to morose.

This may pretend to be a film about imaginary friends, but what it’s actually about is dead and dying parents. The “IFs” are the coping mechanism, and they are also the emotional tether to childlike wonder and comfort in escapism, which is something that 12-year-old Bea needs more than ever. In an opening montage, we see her happy childhood and her mother (Catharine Daddario) slipping away due to illness. When we meet Bea again in the present, her father is in the hospital with a “broken heart” (though he’s plenty spry enough to pull childish pranks and high jinks).

Bea is staying with her grandmother (Fiona Shaw) in her childhood apartment in Brooklyn Heights, strangely left to her own devices, and ends up falling in with her reticent neighbor Cal (Ryan Reynolds) and his two magical associates, a giant purple guy named Blue (voiced by Steve Carell) and a ballerina Minnie Mouse creature, Blossom (voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge).

Blue and Blossom are IFs whose kids have grown up and they’d like to find new ones to befriend. After they explain their plight, Bea takes on the matchmaking task as her new “job.” It’s never explained what will happen to the IFs if they don’t get paired up, as it seems they just go live in a retirement home underneath Coney Island. But Bea seals the deal with a musical performance of Tina Turner’s “You Better Be Good to Me,” which is a callback to her own childhood memories but also feels like an extensive inside joke.

They soon realize that they need to be tracking down the adult pals of the IFs instead of looking for new ones, and so Bea roams New York City with Cal, Blue and Blossom looking for these kids and trying to activate their sense memories so that they can see their IFs again.

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There’s a lot of potential disbelief to suspend here. A set of rules and regulations about these imaginary creatures would help. Who can see them? Why does Bea’s grandmother not wonder why she is running off to Coney Island all day? Is her dad in a mental hospital? Is any of this actually happening?

Krasinski emphasizes poignancy over coherence, with composer Michael Giacchino wildly overscoring the piece in order to convey narrative beats that simply aren’t there. The oddly paced film feels randomly strung together, spiced with a collection of one-line vocal cameos delivered by high-profile Krasinski pals (George Clooney, Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Emily Blunt, Jon Stewart, Bradley Cooper, Keegan-Michael Key, Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Blake Lively, Amy Schumer, Christopher Meloni, Richard Jenkins, etc.). The film looks great, with rich, vintage production design by Jess Gonchor, and it’s beautifully shot by Steven Spielberg’s master cinematographer Janusz Kaminski . But the whole conceit is so undercooked, it could give you salmonella.

“IF” is a film from an adult’s perspective about the importance of imagination, and a reminder to stay connected with our own sense of childlike wonder. But is it a movie for kids, or for the inner child of an adult? With its nonsensical, confounding story, it might not be for anyone, even if its heart is in the right place.

'IF'

Rating: PG, for thematic elements and mild language Running time: 1 hour, 44 minutes Playing: Now in wide release

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"The Blue Angels," a nonfiction film about the Navy's flight demonstration team, was made for IMAX, in two senses of the phrase. 

First, technically: according to Cineworld's website , "'The Blue Angels' was shot with Sony's Venice 2 IMAX-certified digital cameras and features IMAX exclusive Expanded Aspect Ratio (EAR) throughout." 

Second: it's mainly, perhaps almost exclusively, a spectacle, and as much of a demonstration of new technology and the professionals who've mastered it as the Blue Angels themselves. 

There are lots of low-angled "heroic" shots of the pilots and moving shots taken from over their shoulders with a Steadicam as they stride through long corridors, and slow-motion shots of them walking towards and away from planes, taking off sunglasses and putting them on, and moments where they move abreast in a "power walk" formation familiar from many a Hollywood action flick. The movie is an ad for The Blue Angels, the Navy, planes, the military generally, and an iconography-based sense of patriotism, as much as the " Top Gun " films, the first of which was memorably described by New Yorker critic Pauline Kael as "a recruiting poster that isn't concerned with recruiting but with being a poster."  (The precision flying showcased in the "Top Gun" movies is inspired by The Blue Angels, and it just so happens that one of this film's producers is Glen Powell , costar of " Top Gun: Maverick .") 

And the flying itself? And the filming of it? It's technically impressive. Not surprisingly framed, much less poetic (probably almost no one wanted that), but impressive. I saw The Blue Angels a couple of times as a kid and remember thinking that it seemed physically impossible for such large metal objects to fly so close to one another while roaring through the sky at hundreds of miles an hour. But they did it. They do it here, again, for the IMAX cameras, which seemingly were affixed to multiple parts of the planes' exteriors and cockpits. (How is it possible that we never see those cameras in the shots? Were they digitally erased later? Or are the cameras just that small, and the camera crew just that smart?)

Director Paul Crowder , who also helped edit the movie, tries to find a narrative through-line by sketching out the members of the Blue Angels team. He focuses mainly (though not exclusively) on the Commanding Officer and Flight Leader, aka " Boss ," Captain Brian Kesselring, who eventually left the Angels and is now Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5. "My feeling is, you should never feel too comfortable in the suit," he says. 

Other members of the squadron drift in and out of the foreground. There's a bit of material about the strain placed on marriages and families by the pilots being on the road 300 days a year, but no talk of affairs, divorces, or anything like that (the Navy wouldn't have permitted it anyway). Towards the end of the movie, through a fluke of production timing, we also get to meet the Blue Angels' first-ever female pilot, Amanda Lee , and watch her be inducted. 

But make no mistake: the planes are the stars of this production, and as hard as the filmmakers try to reassure us that there are human stories going on as well, the precision flying and all the training and practice that allow it to exist are what everyone paid to see, and the movie never forgets it. 

The cutting almost never lingers on shots, though, which may seem odd. If you're going to shoot and exhibit in IMAX, complete with state-of-the-art, bone-rattling surround-sound, why not let the viewer experience a " scissors cross ," a " delta breakout " or a " loop break cross " from the perspective of one of the flyers for a long enough stretch that it feels as if the G-forces are bearing down?

Still, the totality does leave an impression, thanks to the crystal-clear imagery (by Jessica Young , Lance Benson, and Michael FitzMaurice ) and the diving, climbing, rolling aircraft. The moments that resonate aren't just about the flying, but the emotion the pilots feel as they appreciate what it was like to become part of an elite group that has inducted just 260 people since its creation in 1946. 

Matt Zoller Seitz

Matt Zoller Seitz is the Editor at Large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.

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