Film Review: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Rating: 7.5/10

Genre: Fantasy/ Action

Related films: Jumanji (1995), Pixels, Spy Kids

By Leanne Harragan

Four high school kids discover an ancient video game and find themselves sucked into the game becoming their chosen character. As they explore their new surroundings they discover it's more than just a game. They must undertake the biggest adventure of their lives and work together to win or be stuck forever.

I was not overly excited for this one as I'm quite a fan of the original. I was however pleasantly surprised. It's not groundbreaking but is funny and fresh, a modern take on the 1995 version. 

Opening with massive exposition about the four teen characters of the story; a self-obsessed blonde, a quiet nerdy girls, a dumb jock and a smart-ass gamer. While the exposition was not in anyway clever it worked for this film and was even at times relatable, especially when ditsy Bethany is taking an 'impromptu' selfie. I also really liked the modernisation of the game, now a gameboy-esque cartridge. 

There was something very lovable about the cast, it was hard not to enjoy watching grown adult actors playing the parts of teenagers stuck in grown up bodies. My favourite character being Ruby Roundhouse Killer of Men (what's not to love?) I especially loved when she called out the bullshit of her avatar wearing cropped shorts and a leather vest in the jungle compared to her male counterparts being dressed for the occasion. I also loved seeing Jack Black acting the part of a teenage girl, watching him teaching the basics of flirting was a personal highlight!

The fights and problems the rag-tag team had to overcome were often ridiculous but hilarious and made them discover the way to beat the game was to band together and be a team. The final scene of the film was one of my favourite parts when they had returned to the real world and met back up with Alex a missing boy that they found in the game who rediscovered the real world was a little different than he remembered. 

There is honestly not much more I can say about this film, it was funny, modern and had a strong female character. A great family film full of pep talks about how you only have one life and should live it to the full.