Money Grab Reboot After Another, It’s Surprising How Freaking Great ‘Jumanji’ Is

When Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was asked how he felt about reprising such a beloved 90’s film, the charismatic action star and highest-paid actor in Hollywood gives a profoundly honest answer: “Embrace the early skepticism.” He goes on to explain what many of us felt, what most of us were indeed a part of when we heard the news a couple years ago that Jumanji, a mere three years after Robin Williams’ death, would be back as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. “For a movie like this that’s really beloved for kids who grew up in the 90s,” Johnson said about his mindset going into Jumanji, “being okay with people’s early skepticism.” The long game worked and our skepticism turned out to be wrong, as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a great, fun, family adventure.

I should add my personal context watching the film, as my experience was likely made even better seeing the movie through the eyes of my twin nephews, 10-years old, who knew nothing of the original but were excited for its new iteration. It seemed almost blasphemous to allow them to watch it without having seen the original but time was limited, so I swallowed my arrogant nerd pride. When the main cast arrived, played by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, I caught my first laugh. Not long later is was followed by another, and then another. It wasn’t long before I was catching more jokes than the 10-year olds I was accommodating and I laid my cynicism down like a burden down by the riverside and acce…