Over the weekend, I finally got around to seeing Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Now when word first got out that they were making a new version, a lot of people were doing the “no, you can’t replace the original” dance. But that’s never what was intended. This version is actually a sequel to the 1995 movie starring Robin Williams. And, as much as fans of the original might not want to hear this, Welcome to the Jungle (WttJ) is a much better movie. 

You know the basic premise of the film: Jumanji is a game that forces you to play until you complete the challenges or you die. The first movie was little more than continuous attacks, often involving animals, that attempted to kill the players. WttJ shows the game evolve to fit the times, beginning in 1996 when it magically morphs from board game to video game. And this is the main element that makes the story much more cohesive.

As a video game, there are increasingly difficult levels that players need to complete in order to advance (and survive) to the end of the game. An NPC (non-playable character) explains the purpose of the game at the start so players aren’t entirely lost. And each character has strengths and weaknesses to call on for any given situation. So, basically, your typical adventure video game. And yes, like the original, the movie says a lot about teamwork.

The actors did a good job of playing both adventure heroes and the teens that are inhabiting the heroes. Dwayne Johnson is an obvious choice for an adventurer named Dr. Smolder Bravestone, but he also does a great job acting like the anxiety-ridden nerd Spencer. Karen Gillian literally kicks ass as Ruby Roundhouse, but also has to deal with being Martha, the smart girl with self-confidence issues. Then there’s Kevin Hart as weapons valet Mouse who, in the real world, is a strapping, over confident football player. But perhaps the best performance is by Jack Black who plays Professor Oberon inhabited by a self-absorbed, social media obsessed teen girl who’s not thrilled to be a middle-aged, overweight man.

Overall, WttJ is a fun adventure movie. There are a lot more laughs than just what’s in the trailers, the action is well done and feels very much like a video game, and the plot makes a lot more sense this time around. Plus, it’s a pretty good family movie – there were adults and kids in attendance when I saw it and we were all having a good time.