Only this time, their grandparents, Milo and Eddie (Dannys' Glover and DeVito, respectively), have also been sucked into the game. They have to work together to complete the game so that they can return home.
A sequel from the school of 'the same, but different', this sequel to the surprise hit Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle maintains the simplicity of the previous film's concept, but throws in a couple of new elements that make it just different enough to be a pleasant time-waster.
Following the Arctic nothingness of Hobbs and Shaw, I was starting to see the ceiling on Dwayne Johnson's appeal.
Watching this movie (and thinking about the last one), it is bizarre that these movies feature Johnson's most... vulnerable performances. Is it because he is playing a fictional character within the movie? Is it because the first one was successful?
It is a strange set of affairs when Johnson allows himself to be vulnerable only when he is embodying the pixelated avatar of a nerd.
Aside from pondering the thought processes of its leading man, there is not much to chew on. The movie does not reinvent the wheel, but it is refreshing.
I am pretty sure that you could watch this one without having to see the last one. So many sequels are obsessed with world-building. Here, you have a premise that allows for future add-ons but does not require them.
While it has a certain melancholy to its resolution, The Next Level continues to mine the basic conflict between the personalities and the characters they are saddled with.
jEach of the key cast members have new conflicts that are exacerbated by their new avatars. The main storyline is built around our heroes' grandparents (Dannys Glover and DeVito), former friends who have a long-standing resentment that they are forced to confront inside the game.
Akwafina joins the cast as Spencer's new avatar, and fits in pretty seamlessly. The original cast are still fun. The one questionable choice was Black playing Fridge's avatar, although he does avoid falling into a caricature.
Johnson and Hart, playing the bickering old friends, are weirdly invigorated. It is truly bizarre how committed they are to these characters' relationship. I am not saying this is a Michael Leigh-level drama, but there is a gravitas there, and they play it without tongue in cheek.
While it is no masterpiece, there is something noteworthy about how skilfully this movie manages to avoid screwing up the original (sequel's) simple premise. I cannot say I am looking forward to a third movie, but it is more intriguing than any of the Rock's other upcoming vehicles.
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