Have I seen every Jumanji film? Honestly, I'm not even sure anymore. I can't remember which one I watched last. What I do remember is enjoying it. Was it Oscar-worthy? Absolutely not. Was it a lot of fun? Definitely. So, am I surprised they're making another one? Not really. The films keep making money, and this trailer reminds you exactly why. The cast has great chemistry, the humour lands, and the franchise has carved out its own identity with its video game mechanics and playful lore since the original film starring Robin Williams
The trailer wastes no time, opening with mysterious green clouds, zebras stampeding through the streets, and the gang heading to a diner after Danny DeVito's character spots something unbelievable. Sitting inside is Dr. Bravestone himself, and it isn't long before they discover the rest of the playable Jumanji characters are there too. The catch? They're all stuck in demo mode. Cue a little boy claiming he saw a hippopotamus in the alleyway... only for a rhino to smash through the diner. It's exactly the kind of ridiculous chaos you'd expect from this franchise.
Dr. Bravestone says "Let's go," and there is a gag where we see the game characters sprinting with those exaggerated video game animated runs, only for someone to ask, "Why do they run like that?" It's a simple joke, but it works. We also get Dr. Bravestone driving like an absolute lunatic, Karen Gillan's avatar still speaking with a hilariously broad Spanish accent, Kevin Hart's avatar proudly declaring Bravestone the greatest driver in all of Jumanji, and even a Jack Black's Avatar getting killed in the real world before instantly respawning. The trailer leans heavily into its gaming rules, and honestly, that's where these films can be at their best.
So we gather that this time around the story flips the formula, so instead of just people entering the game, the game's characters have crossed into the real world, along with the other inhabitants of the game, along with the animals, while the familiar body-swapping mechanics return again, once everyone ends up back in Jumanji. It's another twist that I am not sure if it keeps the concept from feeling stale, as we have seen it before, but it can have some funny moments.
The final gag sees the mother inhabiting Dr. Bravestone's body, insisting that "violence is never the answer" before immediately discovering just how much fun it is punching people, complete with an Oprah-style, "You get one! You get one!" moment. It's silly, over-the-top, and exactly the kind of humour these films thrive on.
Will this reinvent the wheel? Probably not. It looks like another entertaining adventure packed with laughs, action, and just enough video game madness to entertain me and want to jump back into Jumanji one more time.
