Jumanji: The Next Level

“Jumanji: Next Level” is the follow up to the 2017 hit also directed by Jake Kasdan. His latest film stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillian. As with the last “Jumanji,” the characters within the game take on the personalities of Fridge, Bethany, Spencer, and Martha. Danny DeVito and Danny Glover add to the mix as Eddie (Spencer’s grandfather) and Milo (Eddie’s estranged best friend) who also make their way into the game. While most of the movie feels much like a repeat performance, the addition of DeVito and Glover add enough to make the move fresh and entertaining. The offensive language is found through much of the movie, and there is no shortage of God’s name being used in vain. For this reason, I can’t recommend this as a family-friendly movie. I can say it was entertaining enough to keep me interested and laughing through the film.

The story picks up a few years later from where “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” left off. The main characters have moved on from high school on their separate paths and have a meetup planned for their break home from college. When Spencer doesn’t show up, the rest go looking for their friend. Soon we find the four friends back into the game to rescue their friend along with DeVito and Glover. The game rules remain the same with each character within the game getting only 3 lives. Dangers abound and everyone loses at least one life on their journey.

Once again, the characters have to save Jumanji to be freed from the game. The main antagonist this time is the evil Jurgan The Brutal. Plenty of excitement fills the storyline from new weaknesses for the characters as well as stampeding ostrich herds and other creatures who cause great peril for the players. The film is well acted, directed, and the pace kept me in the movie through the entire running time.

This film lives up to the hype trailer. It sticks to the same basic formula but this gives the viewers a fun ride through the adventure of getting sucked into a video game. I would have liked it more had they avoided the unnecessary use of profanity. Most Christians will not want to be subjected to the added GDs which were not in the last film.

The objectionable content ranges from a handful of profanities to implied adultery of the game characters. God’s name is misused numerous times, 22 misuses of the word “H*ll”, 3 “d*mn”, and 1 “go scr*w yourself.” Characters also reference their testicles and breasts. And there is one implied reference to the size of someone’s penis, but they cut before you hear it. Other language is listed below.

I do wish Hollywood directors like Kasdan would keep so much objectionable material out of anything remotely billed as a family movie. This makes it very unwise to bring kids to what could otherwise be an enjoyable movie. Given the director’s previous raunchy movies, perhaps it makes sense that the family genre was a bit of a stretch. Jake previously directed movies such as “Sex Tape,” “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” and “Bad Teacher”—all highly offensive.

A few positive themes are exhibited among the characters. These come from the value of life made in the image of God.

“And God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him. Male and female he created them.” —Genesis 1:27

Also, the importance of loving your friends more than yourself.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” —Phillipians 2:3

• Profane language: Heavy— • Oh Christ • G*d-d*mn (6) • Oh my God (10) • Oh God (2) • Holy sh*t • Oh Lord • hell (22) • d*mn (3)
• Vulgar/Crude language: Moderately Heavy— • “I told you to stay the h*ll away from my wife” • “Touch my boobs and I’ll kill you” • “You should see the size of your…” • “Get a room” • “Both of my balls are right here” • “I got no balls” • Bastards • s-words (2) • “Piss off” • cr*p • a** (3) • “bitches” • S.O.B. • “Go screw yourselves”
• Sex: • Eddie finds himself as the character Dr. Smolder and bumps into his old lover who we find out is married. There are innuendos to Eddie meeting up with the woman. • Woman flirts with man, then slaps him and leaves, but he tells others they’re getting together later and they know what that means • The others tell him she has a clue for him and he suggestively jokes “I've got a ‘clue’ for her.” • Male characters inhabit female character bodies within the game and vice versa • Reference to a character’s genitalia • Kisses (brief)
• Violence: Moderately Heavy— • Cartoon-type violence associated with deaths within the video game. No blood is shown. • The characters face wild animals and perilous heights as they go on their journey.
• Nudity: Moderate— • Ruby Roundhouse wears short shorts and a bare mid-drift shirt throughout most of the movie • cleavage • short shorts
• Alcohol: Moderate— • drinking • drunken men
• Occult: Minor
• Other: Human characters inhabit an animal character within the game

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.