Jumanji: The Next Level 4DX Review: Immersive and Exciting

Back in 2017 fans were in uproar about a Jumanji reboot announcement.

Once the film came out thou however people were pleasantly surprised with this modern take on a cinematic classic.

Fast forward two years later and we’re back again as the gang take on the next level in store within the world of Jumanji.

Review may contain some spoilers

Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Nick Jonas and Karen Gillan all return with some power house additions.

Danny Glover and Danny DeVito star in the movie with DeVito playing Spencer’s Grandfather and Glover playing DeVito’s long lost friend and former business partner.

Both of whom get sucked into the game where this time the rules are much different.

The story revolves around Spencer (Alex Wolff) who’s a little lost in the world. Not feeling appreciated and with nothing going his way since coming out of Jumanji last time.

Once the fearless Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Johnson) he’s now in the real world with real world problems.

Somehow he had kept the video game they smashed up in the first movie and one quick rebuild later he vanishes without a trace.

His friends soon realise he’s gone, go to his house and they end up in the game also but drag DeVito and Glover with them!

Upon arriving in a broken Jumanji game, everyone has swapped characters apart from Martha (Morgan Turner). Martha returns as Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan) but Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain) is now Professor Shelly Oberon (Jack Black).

Danny Devito is now Bravestone (Johnson) and Danny Glover has now inhabited Mouse Finbar’s body (Kevin Hart).

Bethany (Madison Iseman) makes an appearance later in the movie as she’s left behind after the broken video game fails to draw her into the world of Jumanji.

As DeVito and Glover both get adjusted to their much younger bodies with hilarious consequences the age jokes drag on. Constantly riffing on about getting old throughout.

In addition to their bad hearing and concentration lapses as they go in search of Spencer. The movie goes one deeper than the previous film as friendships and relationships become the core of Jumanji: The Next Level.

 It’s not just the game bringing new levels as the story arcs are much deeper than you’d expect from this family fun adventure.

What amazes me throughout the movie is just how you genuinely believe it’s DeVito inside Johnson’s body and Glover inside Hart’s. Kevin and Dwayne had me absolutely convinced of the fact.

I’ve never quite seen a true acting performance from either of them outside their comedic / action movie realms.

This task was no mean feat but they pull it off with style. Jack Black deserves a special mention too for channelling multiple characters throughout the film.

As the film  goes on we find a magical lake that can transfer bodies around and this is where the film starts to get confusing.

We get Martha swapping bodies with Fridge and so many more switcharounds and even a horse is involved!

It all gets a bit confusing at this point trying to keep track of who is in who’s body but it doesn’t distract too much from the story.

Jumanji The Next Level 4DX Overall

I do feel as thou DeVito and Glover should have been avatars in the game themselves.

Their time on screen is very limited and it’s a real shame.

I sadly felt that Awkwafina was the weakest link in this cast line-up.

I couldn’t quite believe the character she was channeling. It didn’t feel believable but she has some cheeky one liners and is fun to watch nonetheless.

Whilst the film didn’t take me to the next level the 4DX experience did. When the players get sucked into the game the seat movement, the strobes, the wind in your hair.

You feel as thou you’re physically being swept inside the game!

 It’s quite the experience!

Other highlights include an ostrich stampede and a Mandrel attack across some floating bridges.

But when the players die in the game (not a spoiler) they fall from the sky and land with a thud.

4DX allows you to feel every thud and everything else in-between.

What the film lacks overall the 4DX more than certainly makes up for.

Jumanji The Next Level 4DX Review by Sean Evans