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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)


Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is about four teenagers who get transported into the video game world of Jumanji. A sequel to the original with a twist, instead of the world of Jumanji coming to the real world it's in reverse and with video game elements.

Director, Jake Kasdan, is probably best known as the director of Bad Teacher and Sex Tape (the bad Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel movie, not a porno). While the film is pretty straightforward with the shots used and imagery, Kasdan focuses on the performances of his actors. Smart movie Kasdan.

I've been enjoying Chris McKenna's writing for a long time now. If you consider since 2010 long. He did a TV show called Community and The LEGO Batman Movie which has grown on me since it's my eldest daughter's favorite movie. Oh, and he also did a little movie called Spider-Man: Homecoming. The dialogue in the film is great. Look forward to his writing in the upcoming movie Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Dwayne Johnson is perfect for the role of as the main character in a video game. The delivery of his lines are expectedly on point. His interactions between Hart's character and Gillan are just how a shy teenage boy would be. It's almost like he knew how that felt.

Kevin Hart was the hardest sell for me since he was just being himself instead of being Fridge. The way Fridge acted when not in the game was nothing like how Hart acted. It's only a small problem but it's noticeable if you think back.

Jack Black and Karen Gillan are great as video game characters being played by two young teenage girls. Sure they're stereotyping but everyone knows a girl like that in their high school. I teach for a living, I know students that are like these two. One is self-absorbed and the other a shy antisocial rebel. Black has some of the best lines while Gillan is hard to take your eyes off of.

Result: B+ (I recommend this as a comedy, that's saying a lot)
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