Jumanji- Welcome to the Jungle is a sequel. Or a remake. Reboot? I really don’t know, and in truth, it really doesn’t matter. It is a story that acknowledges the original Jumanji film but doesn’t seem beholden to it in any way, and, while recognizing that Alan Parrish, the character brought to life by the late Robin Williams, existed, places that recognition into a world that doesn’t appear to be the one that he described in the original story. As well, the target audience of this film would not necessarily have any remembrance of that film or the Parrish character so it is just for those of us who remember Williams with fondness.

Regardless, this is its own film, and it stars a cavalcade of the popular today: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan. They are the playable characters in this case, inside the game, which is a video game this time out. Four disparate teenagers are sentenced to detention at school and find the video game, Jumanji, in the room where they are working on their DT duties. They decide to play and are sucked into the game where they turn into the above actors. The nerdy kid becomes Johnson, the big, tough football star becomes Hart, the mousy girl becomes Gillan and the hot, self-absorbed girl becomes Black. Hijinks ensue.

There is a lot to like in this film, including the characters learning how the game is played, including limited lives and skills, non-playable characters and cut scenes. They learn how to work together and to believe in themselves.

I have to admit that I really enjoyed it. The bad guy was more of a macguffin than anything else but the journey was the point of this one as was the learning how and where they fit into things. Your basic coming of age story. The actors are having a lot of fun, playing against type and just losing themselves in their roles.

Worth the watch. A lot of fun!

-all photos via IMDb.com.