Wednesday, Film4, 6:40pm
When Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) hit cinemas, it had the unenviable task of reviving a beloved 1995 classic without Robin Williams at the helm. Instead of trying to outdo the original’s heart and whimsy, director Jake Kasdan took a clever detour—transforming the mystical board game into a cursed video game, trapping four mismatched teens inside the digital jungle world of Jumanji. Cue body-swap antics, self-aware video game tropes, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson doing his best impression of an awkward teenager. The result? A surprisingly fun and sharp adventure flick that blends The Breakfast Club with Indiana Jones—with just enough meta-humor to make it feel fresh.
A huge part of the film’s success comes from its cast embracing the ridiculousness of their roles. Jack Black steals the show as a teenage girl trapped in a middle-aged man’s body (delivering possibly his best comedic work since School of Rock), while Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan bring their own brand of chaos. And, of course, The Rock—playing against type as a nerdy kid in a hero’s body—gets to poke fun at his own action-hero persona. But beneath the comedy, there’s a surprisingly solid adventure film, with action sequences that feel straight out of a late-‘90s PlayStation game. Plus, Nick Jonas is there… for reasons.
Composer Henry Jackman—whose work includes Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Kong: Skull Island—delivers a pulpy, adventurous score that leans into classic jungle-exploration themes while adding a modern blockbuster sheen. There are echoes of Alan Silvestri’s original Jumanji score, but this one dials up the bombast, embracing the over-the-top nature of the game-world. It’s a soundtrack that understands the assignment: fun, energetic, and just a little ridiculous. Much like the film itself.