Be Reel Blog Ryan Ryersen

Jumanji: Surpasses Expectations

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle by Jake Kasdan was a funny adventure movie that was pretty good and exceeded my expectations. This is a sequal to the 1995 film of Jumaji, which featured a similar story using a board game. In the new millenium Kasdan rehashes the same ideas but in a videogame. The movie features four high schoolers whom ordinarily wouldn’t cross paths however through various events all end in detention together. These characters stick very closely to their stereotypes. There is the video-gamer and nerd character(Spencer), the football jock(Fridge), the spoiled popular girl(Bethany), and the anti-social girl(Martha). These personas are then transported into characters in the videogame. So, the nerd becomes a muscular and powerful character played by Dwayne Johnson, the jock is shrunk down to become a sidekick played by Kevin Hart, the popular girl becomes a fat middle-aged man played by Jack Black, and the anti-social girl becomes a strong martial artist woman played by Karen Gillian.
       Perhaps the best part of this film is the acting that takes place. In this movie we witness these actors play against their typical personas. For example, Dwayne Johnson, who is a large and muscular man, must play an insecure and awkward teenagers. Typically he plays the role of the confident protagonist however in this movie you see him whispering to himself “Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Everything’s going to be okay.” Alongside Johnson is Jack Black, best known for School of Rock, where Jack Black plays a crazy Rock-and-Roll loving teacher. Jack Black must take a complete 180° turn to play a popular teenage girl and he nails it. Jack Black surprisingly nails it as he is so funny and my personal favorite part of the movie. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fYyOfsoukM )
      Throughout the film there were two overarching themes, the first of which is that self-confidence is achievable for all people and is vital for success. This is seen when Spencer is is first timid but then learns how to use his strengths and becomes confident in himself. This then carries over into real life when they exit the game because his confidence helps him succeed. This theme is somewhat cheesy but ultimately portrays a good message.
Another overarching theme in this film is about making the most of your life. In the beginning of the        film the principal gives all the students in detention a speech about life being whatever you make of it and that you should choose to make the most of it. Once they are in the game they are given three lives. At the climax of the film Spencer is down to his last life and he gets nervous. Fridge is confused because he witnessed him do incredible feats of strength and pull off amazing stunts. Spencer says that it easy to be confident when you have multiple lives. Fridge response that in real life you only have one life and that in real life you choose to be the hero or not. At some points this becomes a little bit repetitive but it is introduced in a unique way which makes it interesting. Ultimately, this movie receives a good, good.