Starring: Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Language: English
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour 44 minutes
After a little over 20 years ago that it was decided that this movie was going to be rebooted. Much like everyone else, I was upset and skeptical whether it was going to turn out well. Granted most of us thought this would be a remake and not a continuation, but in the end, it turned out to be a fun little movie. While this was going on, I figured I look back on one of my favorite childhood movies.
When young Alan Parrish discovers a mysterious board game, he doesn't realize its unimaginable powers until he is magically transported--before his friend Sarah's startled eyes-- into the untamed jungles of Jumanji. He remains there for 26 years when two unsuspecting children free him from the game's spell. Now a grown man, Alan reunites with Sarah, and they and the children try to outwit the game's powerful forces. [Source: IMDb]
Granted this isn't a movie I've watched hundreds of times, I have seen it a few times since its release in 1995. Seeing this movie before and after Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle gave me some fresh eyes on something so nostalgic. I've always enjoyed this movie and even wanted the board game, but Maja forbade me from ever getting it. She was afraid that destruction might occur while playing, but...it's just a movie. Even to this day, she avoids the movie and still doesn't want me to own the game. I still love this movie. The story was exciting, entertaining, and didn't baby its audience; it also has the late and great Robin Williams.
The pace of the story flowed very well by combining two childhood stories together with Alan and Sarah starting off the game and finishing it off with Peter and Judy. Despite growing up in different time periods, they work together to conquer the various dangers the game produces as well as helping Alan resolve his relationship with his father. I didn't realize until recent viewing that Jonathan Hyde played both Alan's father, Sam Parrish, and major game villain Van Pelt, which is hugely symbolic for Alan's character. The movie does an amazing job balancing these relationships between these four characters and it's easy to become deeply invested in them winning. There's some good humorous moments peppered throughout the movie from not only Williams but also from comedic actor David Alan Grier as Officer Bentley, so you're not terrified or too sad. I honestly forgot that he was in this movie as well as a young Kirsten Dunst.
Are there any negatives in this movie? Hmm...there might be some cheesy or timely jokes in it and some of the CGI doesn't hold up, but for the most part, it still works. I don't think those things will detract any enjoyment for those who haven't seen the movie, whether young or old. Is it necessary to see this movie before watching Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle? Not really, but you'll miss out on a few Easter eggs. There's a nice little tribute to Alan in the movie and if you haven't seen this movie, it won't mean anything to you. It's kind of a sequel anyway, so I would recommend watching it before jumping into the newer installments of the movie. Besides, it comes on TV pretty often, if you still have cable.
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