There are a few key differences between the original Jumanji and its updated quasi-reboot/sequel. First and foremost is the basic concept. Instead of elements of the game being brought into the real world, the kids of the real world get sucked into the game. It's fundamentally opposite to the original, which goes a long way to making it feel surprisingly fresh. Second: the game is a video game rather than a board game, giving it a more modern appeal (although, despite what one kid says, plenty of people still play board games).
It might be tempting to pass off the update to a video game as just modernizing the story now that video games are a multi-billion dollar industry. (Lord knows, Sony was hardly shy about promoting their games - yes, I know I still need to play The Last Guardian, Sony! Sheesh!) At the same time, sending the kids into a video game allowed the screenwriters (including Community's Chris McKenna) the opportunity to make some clever gags. The "three lives" element was sometimes used well to advance the plot, or to make for a decent gag, and at times, to provide for compelling character moments. The strengths and weaknesses, while sometimes random and other times under-utilized, still provide some solid comedic bits as well. Naturally, there are some missed opportunities (rendering jokes or glitches would have been neat), but largely, it feels like a story by someone at least casually familiar with the medium.
The film is ultimately about stereotypes, in a sense. Each of the four new kids fulfills some cliched high school movie role. Spencer is the nerd. Bethany is the hot, shallow, popular girl. Martha is the shy, awkward girl. Fridge is the dumb jock. Even Alex, the first kid to get sucked into the video game in 1996, is a stereotypical metal head. It's not a super original idea, but it allows for the film to have a shockingly cohesive structure.
See, the strength of this movie is in seeing these actors play against type. You've got the attractive Lara Croft-type Karen Gillan playing Martha in game. Then, you've got Jack Black as Bethany, Kevin Hart as Fridge, and Duane Johnson as Spencer. Everyone except Kevin Hart essentially plays the opposite of who they really are. Your enjoyment of the film will definitely depend on how funny you think it is to see the Rock constantly amazed at how strong and powerful he is. Jack Black does a pretty good job playing the popular teenage girl as well, provided you can live with the stereotype of millennial teenagers. For my money, Karen Gillan was a joy to watch, showing off some comedic chops. Her "flirting" scene was among the highlights.
Kevin Hart, however, largely just does the same Kevin Hart role he always does. This might not bother many, of course. Hart is good at what he does. However, it does run counter to the purpose of the film. The bulk of his time is making comments about his size compared to the Rock's, something we saw plenty of in Central Intelligence. It's also a bit disappointing because we get a pretty good arc for each character except for Fridge. Martha learns to love herself as she is and to not just pre-emptively reject other people to avoid the possibility of being rejected because of her appearance. Bethany learns the value of empathy and consideration of other people. Spencer learns to be brave. On a technical level, there is reason for Fridge to learn the value of studying and caring about school subjects. We see him put his avatar's attribute of knowledge to good use. Unlike the other characters, though, we never see him have a real "a-ha!" moment that implies he will carry that back with him into the real world.
It should be noted that - perhaps to assuage the anger of '90s kids - the film does not retcon the original. Though it serves functionally as a relaunch, it is implied through a somewhat clever reference halfway through that the events of the original Jumanji did take place in this world. That said, it virtually doesn't matter. If continuity is a thing for you, you can rest easily knowing that they didn't just wipe out a beloved childhood movie. That said, there's a fair amount of difference. Liking one won't necessarily mean liking the other.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is an enjoyable film with some solid comedic acting and a few great bits. At times, poignant and clever. At others, shallow and disappointing. Your entertainment from it will likely depend on how much you like the cast. By no means amazing, or one you should rush out to see, it's not as terrible as the trailers make it seem - even if they do spoil what would have been some of the best gags.
REDUCTIVE RATING: It's fine.
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