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Jumanji: The Next Level
Movie

Jumanji: The Next Level

2019 • Action, Adventure, Comedy

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

The gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own, they discover that nothing is as they expect. The players will have to brave parts unknown and unexplored, from the arid deserts to the snowy mountains, in order to escape the world's most dangerous game.

Overall Series Review

The sequel to the soft reboot finds the original group of teenagers dragged back into the video game world of Jumanji, along with two elderly, curmudgeonly family members who are inadvertently pulled in. The core conceit is a continuation of the body-swapping comedy, with the real-world players inhabiting new, often unexpected avatars with different strengths and weaknesses. The narrative focuses on Spencer's quest for lost confidence, and the need for his grandfather Eddie and his estranged friend Milo to reconcile their past, all while completing a perilous quest to save Jumanji from a new villain. The film is a light-hearted, action-adventure comedy that foregrounds personal growth, teamwork, and finding one's inner strength, regardless of the physical form one inhabits. The comedy derives primarily from the incongruity between the player's personality and their powerful or mismatched game avatar.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics4/10

The movie uses the shifting of avatars—which changes race, gender, and physical type—as the primary source of humor, not as a vehicle for a lecture on intersectional hierarchy. The narrative is driven by character merit and the universal lesson of self-acceptance. A few jokes rely on racial stereotypes or racially-charged dialogue for punchlines, such as a Black character commenting on white people, which lowers the score from a perfect 1/10. The Asian avatar Ming Fleetfoot, a thief, is a standard video game trope used in the same vein.

Oikophobia1/10

The central conflict is purely personal, revolving around two estranged, elderly men reconciling their friendship and facing their fears in the video game. The ultimate goal is to return home to the real world, which is portrayed as the desired outcome and a place for real-world growth. Western civilization, home, and ancestors are not criticized or deconstructed; institutions like family and friendship are ultimately affirmed.

Feminism3/10

The female avatar, Ruby Roundhouse, is a highly capable and strong action hero who is central to the mission. The initial humor surrounding her skimpy costume and her player (Martha) finding strength in it is a holdover from the previous film. While the character is a competent 'Girl Boss' type, her strength is not used to overtly emasculate the male characters, who are generally competent in their action roles despite their internal character flaws. The movie is not anti-natal or anti-family; in fact, it affirms family and relationship bonds.

LGBTQ+3/10

The body-swapping mechanic inherently creates a temporary form of gender and body fluidity, with characters of different ages, genders, and races inhabiting various forms. The comedy relies on the contrast between the player's identity and their physical avatar, such as a teenage girl briefly in a male avatar. This is played for laughs in a heteronormative framework, and the film does not center on sexual identity or gender ideology as a narrative theme. Traditional male-female pairings remain the established romantic relationships.

Anti-Theism2/10

The movie is a secular fantasy adventure without any overt religious or anti-religious themes. There are no plots about the corruption of faith or the vilification of religious characters. The moral message is about universal values like friendship, courage, and teamwork. Some reviewers noted the presence of mild cursing and the use of the Lord's name in vain, a common feature in modern Hollywood comedies, which prevents a perfect 1/10 score but does not reflect a dedicated anti-theistic agenda.