Critics’ reviews

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

27 reviews from 27 publications. Critics’ score 58: 10 positive, 10 mixed, 7 negative.

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58
Positive
10
Mixed
10
Negative
7

The consensus on Jumanji: The Next Level is mixed, with praise clustering around the cast’s body-swapping comedy rather than the adventure itself. The reviews repeatedly single out Kevin Hart’s measured Danny Glover impression, while the ensemble’s chemistry and mismatched avatars provide much of the reported enjoyment. Even several less enthusiastic critics find the performances funny. Supporters see enough invention in the character switches to make a familiar sequel worthwhile.

The disagreement is over how far those laughs compensate for a recycled plot, uneven jokes and crowded storytelling. The spread is wide: the Evening Standard finds a thoughtfully judged family film, while Slant Magazine sees little reason for the characters to return and finds the action chaotic. Dwayne Johnson’s Danny DeVito impression divides opinion too: Total Film praises it, but The Ringer rejects it even while enjoying the adventure. Across the reviews, freshness is the recurring concern.

Evening Standard
13 December 2019 · ★★★★ · David Sexton
80

Sexton calls the sequel a funny, diverting, thoughtfully judged extension that works as a family film. He particularly praises the humor of the characters’ scrambled avatar transformations and Dwayne Johnson’s comic performance.

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Time Out
9 December 2019 · ★★★★ · Olly Richards
80

The critic finds this sequel an enjoyable second helping of avatar-based giddiness. They praise the plot’s weird and wonderful twists.

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Empire
10 December 2019 · Ben Travis
75*

The review finds the sequel a worthy, laugh-filled expansion, despite its rough edges and weaker action-adventure elements. It especially praises Awkwafina’s comic performance and the increasingly ridiculous body-swapping comedy.

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The Guardian
15 December 2019 · Mark Kermode
70*

Kermode finds the sequel upbeat and lively, though its bawdy jokes and baggy third act falter. He particularly praises the comic character performances and the film’s energetic, inventive body-swapping.

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Variety
10 December 2019 · Peter Debruge
70*

Debruge finds the sequel an entertaining, inventive continuation, though its storytelling can be sloppy. He praises the cast’s collective charisma and the fun of watching actors inhabit mismatched avatars.

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RogerEbert.com
64*

The page could not be read, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be identified from the accessible content.

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IndieWire
10 December 2019 · C+ · Kate Erbland
63

Erbland calls the sequel a fitting, funny follow-up that is less original but earns another round. She praises Kevin Hart’s performance as Danny Glover’s character, while criticizing the crowded cast and some cheap jokes about race and gender identity.

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Radio Times
★★★ · Victoria Luxford
60

Luxford finds the sequel offers more of what fans liked in the previous film, though it largely repeats its plot. She singles out the cast’s fresh twists on their characters as the source of novelty.

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The i Paper
12 December 2019 · ★★★ · Demetrios Matheou
60

Matheou finds the sequel inventive and entertaining, though it lacks some of the original’s freshness. He praises the comic avatar-swapping performances, especially Dwayne Johnson impersonating Danny De Vito and Kevin Hart adopting Danny Glover’s slower delivery.

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Total Film
11 December 2019 · ★★★ · Jamie Graham
60

The critic finds the sequel entertaining and solid, though less fresh than its predecessor. They praise the cast’s playful impersonations of one another, especially Dwayne Johnson’s take on Danny DeVito.

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The AV Club
10 December 2019 · C · Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
57

Vishnevetsky finds the sequel repetitive and lacking in replay value. He singles out Kevin Hart’s Danny Glover impression for praise, while criticizing Dwayne Johnson’s performance and the film’s recycled jokes.

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The Hollywood Reporter
10 December 2019 · John DeFore
55*

DeFore finds the sequel enjoyable but a clear case of diminishing returns, with its charm and comedic performances less consistent than before. He praises the elaborate action set pieces, especially the suspended-bridge maze sequence.

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Little White Lies
12 December 2019 · 2/2/2 · Hannah Strong
40

Strong finds the sequel lacklustre, with a generic message and jokes that often miss the mark. She praises Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart’s impersonations, but criticizes the film’s treatment of Awkwafina and its penis jokes.

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Los Angeles Times
12 December 2019 · Justin Chang
35*

Chang calls the sequel an amiable but overlong retread, with too little novelty to justify its two-hour runtime. He praises Danny DeVito’s effortless comic presence, while finding the relationship and friendship storylines soggy and forced.

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Vulture
11 December 2019 · Bilge Ebiri
35*

Ebiri finds the sequel tired and only modestly funny, with little life beyond its familiar premise. He praises the laughs from the characters’ different ways of dying, especially the Rock being demolished by an ostrich.

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Screen Daily
11 December 2019 · Tim Grierson
30*

The critic finds the sequel disappointing. The visible text notes the players’ return to the jungle but offers no specific praise or complaint beyond that verdict.

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Slant Magazine
10 December 2019 · ★/4 · Jake Cole
25

Cole finds the sequel hollow and repetitive, with little reason for its characters to return to the game. He praises the brief performances of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart playing against type, but says chaotic action quickly overwhelms them.

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HeyUGuys
78*

The review finds the sequel an entertaining, confident ride despite familiar story beats and some weak CGI. It especially praises the comic performances, singling out Kevin Hart’s Danny Glover impression.

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Digital Spy
10 December 2019 · Ian Sandwell
70*

Sandwell finds the sequel hugely likeable and entertaining, though its overfamiliarity holds it back. He praises the body-swapping performances, especially Kevin Hart’s Danny Glover impression, and notes the story’s added emotional heart.

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NME
70*

The review finds the sequel an undemanding but solidly entertaining blockbuster. It praises Danny DeVito’s scene-stealing presence and the cast’s comic character switches, while noting that the plot often treads water.

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The Ringer
13 December 2019 · Claire McNear
70*

McNear finds the sequel a silly, enjoyable action romp despite its cash-grab feel. She singles out the chaotic biome-hopping adventure for praise, while calling Dwayne Johnson’s Danny DeVito impression very bad.

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The Wrap
10 December 2019
70*

The critic finds it an amusing, creative, and enjoyable sequel, though its familiar adventure plot and muddled themes keep it from improving on the original. Kevin Hart’s slow, measured performance as Milo is singled out as a comedic highlight.

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Eye for Film
13 December 2019 · Angus Wolfe Murray
65*

The review finds the sequel enjoyable despite a malfunctioning, forgettable plot. It praises the actors’ personalities and the familiar pleasures they bring to the characters.

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Den of Geek
10 December 2019 · ★★★ · Mark Harrison
60

Harrison finds the sequel enjoyable but overly familiar, judging it no worse or better than its predecessor. He especially praises the ensemble’s comic chemistry and impersonations, with Gillan taking on more of the heroics.

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/Film
10 December 2019 · 5 out of 10 · Josh Spiegel
53*

Spiegel finds the sequel often amusing but a major step down from its predecessor, with an incoherent story and sloppy effects. He praises Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart for the humor they bring to their Danny DeVito- and Danny Glover-inspired performances.

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Consequence
10 December 2019 · Clint Worthington
40*

Worthington finds the sequel enjoyable in places but too familiar and overstuffed to match its predecessor. He praises the performers’ body-swapping character work, especially Kevin Hart’s impression of Danny Glover, while criticizing the repetitive quest and questionable humor.

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Paste
17 December 2019 · 3.5/10 · Oktay Ege Kozak
35

Kozak argues that the sequel mostly replays its predecessor and recommends skipping it. He faults the thin plot and uninspired action, while noting the heartfelt subplot involving Eddie and Milo.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate