dwayne johnson – NZ Film Freak

Jumanji: The Next Level

Director: Jake Kasdan
Writers: Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg
Released: December 2019
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito
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As I mentioned in the first remake – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – you can in no way compare these modern day films to the 90’s Robin Williams Jumanji masterpiece. Nor are these parody movie intended to be.

With that said, let’s begin:

Jumanji: The Next Level was everything that I expected it to be. It was clearly capitalising on the success of the first one, with the story being an after thought. However, if you didn’t see the first movie then you’d still enjoy this second instalment.

In this movie, the characters from the first film are catapulted into Jumanji again. This time, Spencer’s (Alex Wolff) grandfather (Danny Devito) and his friend (Danny Glover) joined. This was the perfect opportunity to make fun of boomers, and they didn’t hold back!

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It played on the most popular aspects of the first film: Jack Black pretending to be a teenage girl, Kevin Hart’s sass, crazy ways of losing one of their three lives, and hilarious one-liners.

There were new avatars such as a horse (yay) and Ming Fleetfoot, whose strength is thievery and pick-pocketing. ca-times.brightspotcdn

This movie was far more about the characters than the storyline, which was a little weak. But despite its predictability, it was another awesome kids’ movie with lots of action and comedic moments. While there was a generous sprinkling of cheese, the movie didn’t try to be anything more or less than it was; entertaining.

Would definitely recommend watching if you loved the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. If you didn’t see the first one, don’t worry, they explain the rules of the Jumanji game very well in this movie so you won’t get lost!

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Director: Jake Kasdan
Writer: Chris McKenna
Released: December 2017
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Bobby Cannavale
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I was on the back foot about this film because I loved the ‘first’ Jumanji film so much.

I say ‘first’ film, but these movies are totally unrelated. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is very loosely based on the board game featured in the 1995 film, but updated to a play station game to target the newer generation.

The main characters are high schoolers who find themselves in detention together – not unlike The Breakfast Club. They are cleaning out the basement of the school when they come across this Jumanji game.

Each student picks an avatar based on the names provided. But they soon find themselves being sucked into the game and becoming the characters they chose.

Ironically, the school bully finds himself as Franklin ‘Mouse’ Finbar (Kevin Hart) – the nerdy avatar with no strength and only a giant backpack as a ‘special ability’ – and the nerdy little kid finds himself as the hulking Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson).

The character-switch is brilliant, particularly in the case of the girly-girl who finds out that her avatar is not a cute professor – Professor Sheldon Oberon – but a character represented by Jack Black.

Jack Black plays a teenage girl so well! Very funny. Especially when he teaches a fellow teenage girl how to be attractive.

“That was so intense. I like can’t even with this place.” – Bethany/Professor Sheldon Oberon (Jack Black)

Within the game they overcome lots of obstacles and dangerous hurdles. All the while being guided by an NPC (non-player character) called Nigel Billingsley (Rhys Darby). He’s pretty glitchy and repetitive, which was funny.

I thought this was going to be a cheap and nasty knock-off of Robin Williams’ Jumanji. I was ready to be offended on his behalf.

But actually, I laughed a lot! I loved it. I watched it on the plane from the UK to New Zealand – which is a long flight – and I didn’t fall asleep or lose concentration at all!

Cool concept, funny characters and a definite re-watcher!

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

Hercules

Director: Brett Ratner
Writer: Based on Hercules: The Thracian Wars by Steve Moore. Admira Wijaya.
Released: July 2014
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Joseph Fiennes, Peter Mullan
and John Hurt
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Hercules was a blood bath with a sense of humour.

Based on Hercules: The Thracian Wars by Steve Moore, the story weaves in the legends of the Demi-God, Hercules (played by wrestler, Dwayne Johnson), but centered it on the more human aspects of him. The movie follows Hercules and his right-hand men (and woman) into multiple battles, but Hercules soon questions who he is really fighting for.

A violent and relatively shallow film, but the characters make fun of themselves and their circumstances, which saves the movie from the bargain bin.

I did enjoy how the legends of Hercules are being spread purposefully to glorify a mere mortal. With Iolaus (Reece Ritchie) being the storyteller, he exaggerates Hercules’ adventures to encourage followership and unity of the people.

Thought you saw Jude Law? Turns out the character (Autolycus) I thought to be played by Law with olive-tinted skin, darkened hair and green contacts, was in fact Rufus Sewell… Just in case you were as equally mistaken by the little round head and English accent.

Speaking of which, Dwayne Johnson’s accent switches a few times throughout the movie, but does remain the only American accent in the entire film.

As a side note, Johnson’s veins are too visible and makes me squeamish.

Overall, a perfectly adequate film for the lovers of Greek mythology and ancient battles. A chick flick for the men… A man movie, a boy story… If you will.

Jodie’s rating: 6/10