It’s A Jungle In There

 Are You Playing The Game, Or Is It Playing You?

Jumanji (1995) – An ancient game emerges from hiding in 1960s suburban America. It brings with it both chaos, and a chance to change the lives of its players.

Directed by Joe Johnston

Starring – Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt, Bradley Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth

Why I Liked It – an excellent blend of humor and scariness!

What a great surprise this one turned out to be. I had it in my mind that I’d seen this one before, but I was thinking of 2005’s “Zathura”, which is set in the same fictional universe, based on books by the same author. Right off the bat, it’s Robin Williams’ name on the cast list that grabs me. This is a careful, disciplined performance by Williams. He knew this movie would not benefit from his common freestyle ad-libbing, and still gives a wonderful performance.

Jumangi is a magical board game with a mind of its own. We see it first in 1869, when its powerful magic frightens two young men enough that they bury the game in a forest. A century later, that area is being developed and the game is revealed to a teen named Alan Parish. When Alan and his crush, Sarah, start playing the game, it pulls Alan into the wild jungle world of Jumanji. Alan remains trapped there for 26 years. The town thinks his father killed him and the family is destroyed. Flash ahead twenty-six more years and brother and sister Peter and Judy hear the Jumanji drums, and become the latest players of the game. While they will try to free Alan, there are challenges and horrors awaiting them all before they can finish the game.

It’s interesting that they marketed this movie as a “family film”. I would not recommend it for younger kids, because several of the sequences in the game are a little scary. Williams wouldn’t let his own children watch the film at its release. With that to one side, this is a movie that holds up very well. The cast is solid with veterans Williams, Neuwirth, Hunt, and David Allen Greer, creating a quality core to which young Dunst, Pierce, and Adam Hann-Byrd bring just the right energy. While a little dated, the effects are very good, with the NOTABLE exception of the monkeys. It’s a children’s game based on a children’s book, and the movie is true to its roots. Jumanji is children’s adventure story that curdles around the edges into some horror.

The latest version of the movie, 2017’s “Jumanji-Welcome to The Jungle” updates the concept (it’s a video game now) and leans more in the comedy direction. I’ve seen it, though I didn’t review it. I enjoyed both movies a great deal, but they are very different beasts.

In the end, the only way to win is to finish the game.

You can stream “Jumanji” as part of your subscription to Amazon Prime, and Sling, or for a small fee on Google Play, Apple, YouTube and Vudu.

Rating – **** Recommended