A spiritual sequel without the star of the original? If that’s not the recipe for a movie disaster, then we don’t know what is. Remember Son of the Mask or Independence Day: Resurgence? No Jim Carrey, no Will Smith – no thank you.
Enter Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the sort of follow up to the 1995 Robin Williams original.
And yet after the first few trailers, fans looked hopeful at this new take on the story, replacing the evil board game with a video game and Jack Black playing a teenage girl.
Now the first press screening has taken place in Hawaii, presented by Black and The Rock, with the critics are heaping praise on the new fantasy comedy.
CinemaBlend
Happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle. It’s fun and funny in equal measure, and makes smart use of its great stars. Not much of a universe-builder for a fantasy sequel, but definitely a reinvention that works.
Slash Film
Was expecting the worst but have to admit the new #JUMANJI movie is a lot of fun. I’d even say it is one of the best video game movies ever made, maybe under only King of Kong, Scott Pilgrim, Edge of Tomorrow & Wreck It Ralph (none of which are adaptations).
Film Journal
Now that the social embargo for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is up, I will say that Jack Black’s performance is perfection personified and deserves 12 Oscars.
GameSpot
Saw #Jumanji! It’s light on nostalgia (besides a handful of Easter eggs), but a lot of fun. The body swap stuff is SO good. Could watch Jack Black play a teenage girl stuck in Jack Black’s body, or @TheRock newly discover his muscles, forever. #WelcomeToTheJungle
JACK BLACK REVEALS THE ROBIN WILLIAMS TRIBUTE IN JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
ComicBook.com
#Jumanji was a ton of fun. Great nods to the original. Jack Black steals it. @TheRock and @KevinHart4real need to keep working together. And YO I love @karengillan!
E! News
Just saw @jumanjimovie and it was action-packed and hilarious at the same time. Luvedddd it!
IGN
Got to see #Jumanji and it is fun as heck! @TheRock totally steals the show, but everyone gets a chance to shine.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle will be released in UK cinemas on December 29, 2017.