Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Jumanji: The Next Level Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 18, 2020

In video game parlance, Jumanji: The Next Level feels more like tacked-on, money grabbing DLC (Downloadable Content) -- content made for an existing product -- rather than a true sequel. Sure the film comes with all of the bells and whistles of an A-list feature and even manages to find a way to make what's old new again, but it comes up short on story, favoring visual spectacle and humor above worthwhile narrative engagement. The movie meanders, quite a bit at times, and never feels at all compelling beyond its momentary laughs or splashes of spectacle.

It's been several years since Spencer (Alex Wolff), Martha (Morgan Turner), Fridge (Ser'Darius Blain), and Bethany (Madison Iseman) adventured in the digital, but very real, world of the Jumanji video game. Now, it is calling to them again. Spencer, away at college and missing his Dr. Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson) avatar, chooses to return to the game world. In pursuit, Fridge and Martha are pulled in, too, as are Spencer's ailing grandfather Eddie (Danny DeVito) and Eddie's estranged friend and one-time business partner Milo (Danny Glover). But a glitch in the game switches avatars. While Martha is still Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan), Eddie inhabits the Bravestone avatar, Milo falls into Mouse (Kevin Hart), and Fridge finds himself as Professor Oberon (Jack Black). With Bethany frantically trying to save her friends on the outside, the team inside is given a mission of freeing Jumanji from severe drought being caused by a missing gemstone being held by the villainous Jurgen the Brutal (Rory McCann).

Though a few well designed character moments dot the film’s opening act, it’s altogether a slow intro with little draw beyond the rush of the looming return to the game world. Characters have grown a bit, with focus on Spencer, but even after most are transported into the game -- new and returning players alike -- the movie remains a structurally wayward and plodding film with some excitement and scattered, but too few, laughs to brighten the experience. Like a poor sequel rather than a good one, the movie will work best for returning audiences rather than those who either haven’t seen the first or don’t remember it particularly well. The character switch-a-roos represent the movie’s heartbeat, infusing most of the avatars with fresh personalities, but it also creates enough on-screen confusion that newcomers or forgetful viewers will be equally confused, if only for a bit, with the crisscrossed new world inside the game. Watching Johnson (poorly but charmingly) channeling DeVito (who is once again comically paired with a much larger, far more muscular counterpart) and Hart (also poorly but charmingly) finding Glover’s voice are amongst the highlights.

But the problem is a story that doesn't amount to mount. The movie asks audiences to revel in the moment, better off hiding the bigger picture in favor of fun diversions and one-off scenes when characters sort out their powers and personalities, lose lives at random (each is granted three), and begin to piece together the larger puzzle. It is in many ways like the first film, with the fresh takes allowing the characters and the audience to experience that sudden shift in avatar appearance and purpose, and Eddie and Milo's entry into the game world allows for that "what in the world!?!" response, but everything beyond the characters amounts to little more than CGI wizardry and a fairly dull story that only serves as a framework for the small picture moments. The cast doesn't quite bring the same level of enthusiasm, either. They're capable to be sure but can't quite find the verve and vigor that made the original picture (talking about the 2017 film, not the 1995 original) so much fun.

Jumanji: The Next Level Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Jumanji: The Next Level was digitally photographed. The source translates exceptionally well to Blu-ray, which manages the movie's many environmental layers, world details, character accents, and the like with exceptional accuracy. The picture's textural qualities are quite strong. Close-ups fare particularly well, with the various safari outfits amongst the highlights. Each character brings a unique look to the movie, including Ruby's Lara Croft-inspired get-up, Mouse's Boy Scout-inspired threads, Shelly's professor-meets-adventurer attire, and Bravestone's muscle-accentuating button-down. Environments, even with so many of them being digitally created, present with agreeable sharpness near and far alike, while practical support pieces are, well, practically indistinguishable from the digital counterparts around and behind. Facial close-ups are, of course, the meat-and-potato highlights. Colors are expressive and bold but never overplayed. Contrast is never whacky, leaving tonal depth true and tangible. Black levels and flesh tones are nonproblemattc. The image manages noise extremely well and other source or encode issues never arise with any obvious severity. Though the UHD obviously bests the Blu-ray, 1080p-only fans are still in for a treat.

Jumanji: The Next Level Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Following Sony's common Blu-ray-UHD practices, Jumanji: The Next Level earns a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack for its 1080p disc release. The results are perfectly acceptable -- excellent, even -- even if lacking the greater fullness and immersion of its DTS:X counterpart. Nicely detailed and adequately deep percussion notes call the players to the game in chapter two, and big, wide engagement powers into the stage as Fridge and Martha -- not Bethany -- are pulled into it from the immediate range and Eddie and Milo from upstairs. Within the game world, there are plenty of moments when the soundtrack shines, expanding to create a sense of openness and spacial inclusion, even with the more limited channel configuration, that along with seamless clarity and attention to detail absolutely draws the listener into the varied worlds and numerous scenarios in which the avatars find themselves. Bass is never lacking, surround extension engages frequently, and lifelike detail remains in abundance. Music, both score and popular, flows from the speakers with strong front stretch and honest surround and subwoofer help. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized from a natural front-center position.

Jumanji: The Next Level Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Jumanji: The Next Level includes a gag reel and a bunch of featurettes, most of which are of little substance. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover. Also included is a folded paper map with a QR code that "reveal(s) a hidden world of Jumanji treasures."

• Gag Reel (1080p, 5:21): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Body Swapping: Snapping into Character (1080p, 5:30): Old faces, new characters: a look at how the characters and actors must adapt for this new Jumanji adaptation.
• Back Together: Reuniting the Cast (1080p, 4:05): The cast talks up the bonds formed on the first movie and relishing the opportunity to reunite for this sequel.
• Level Up: Making Jumanji: The Next Level (1080p, 13:33): New and returning cast and characters, story details, visual effects, technical details, Jake Kasdan's direction, and more.
• Creating the Scene (1080p): Exploring the digital and physical processes of building two scenes: Ostrich Chase (5:40) and Mandrill Bridge (6:45).
• Rhys Darby Wants to Jingle (1080p, 2:22): The Jumanji actor makes some phone calls on the set trying to set up a dance routine.
• Awkwafina Cat Burglar (1080p, 1:43): The actress talks about her character with a comical bend.
• NPC Confessions: Jurgen the Brutal (1080p, 3:06): The character humorously talks up his successes and desire for experiencing failure.
• Grow Up (1080p, 1:06): DeVito and Glover train Johnson and Hart for their roles.
• Telenovela (1080p, 1:07): The movie advertised in poorly dubbed Spanish.
• Trick or Treat (1080p, 1:16): Hart trick-or-treats at Johnson's house.
• Select Scene Pre-Vis (1080p): Side-by-sides featuring the animated previz and finished product for Zeppelin Battle (4:54) and Ostritch Chase (4:28).
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.

Jumanji: The Next Level Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Serviceable all the way but memorable at no point, Jumanji: The Next Level does just enough to keep audiences entertained but goes no further to build its characters or make its world worth visiting for a second watch. A little charm here, a good laugh there, and plenty of visual delights just can't hide a vapid and oftentimes meandering story that struggles to keep up with its characters and grow them all that much, particularly in the game world. The movie saves its best for the real-world bookends, which is fine, but there's little reason to bring the brain into the video game world. Sony's Blu-ray is first-class, delivering high quality video and audio along with a smattering of extra goodies. Worth a look.