The Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores for Jumanji: The Next Level starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black have been revealed.
Rotten Tomatoes
The Rotten Tomatoes score sits at 70% from 90 reviewers. It has an average rating of 5.97 out of 10. There are 63 fresh reviews and 27 rotten reviews.
Here’s what the critics are saying:
Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press gives the film a Fresh score with a 2.5/4. He writes, “The result is a largely successful, if more unbalanced ride. It’s also oddly wistful and melancholic.”
James Berardineli of ReelViews gives the film a Rotten score with a 2.5/4. He writes, “In its determination to rely on the tried-and-true elements of Welcome to the Jungle, The Next Level stands still rather than taking a step forward.”
Rafer Guzman of Newsday gives the film a Rotten score with 2/4. He writes, “The charismatic cast from the previous film feels ill-used in this lackluster sequel.”
Bilge Ebiri of Vulture gives the film a rotten score. They write, “2manji feels kind of lifeless.”
Richard Roeper at the Chicago Sun-Times gives the film a Fresh score with 3/4. He writes, “I liked the unexpected (if kinda trippy) spiritual element that comes into play late in the story. And whether we’re spending time with the real-world characters or their Jumanji avatars, they’re quite the likable bunch…”
Thomas Floyd at The Washington Post gives the film a Fresh score with 2/4. He writes, “With fresher material, who wouldn’t want to see this cast return for another go? Just when you think it’s “game over” for “Jumanji,” the franchise snags an extra life.”
Metacritic
On Metacritic the film has a Metascore of 60 from 20 reviewers. There are 10 positive reviews, 9 mixed reviews, and 1 negative review.
Here’s what the critics are saying:
Karen Han at Polygon gives the film an 86. She writes, “Welcome to the Jungle didn’t need a follow-up, but The Next Level actually ups the ante, rebuking flagging reboots by addressing its material thoughtfully. It makes the return to the jungle a thrill, and, crucially, makes it easy to imagine coming back for more.”
William Bibbiani at TheWrap gives the film a 79. He writes, “It is, most importantly, amusing and creative. It may not follow its storylines to the most logical conclusions, and it may not reinvent the action movie as we know it. It’s still an enjoyable blockbuster sequel that tries to infuse the original idea with a couple new ideas, while setting the stage for more exciting adventures to come.”
Soren Andersen at The Seattle Times gives the film a 75. He writes, “It’s all undeniably silly, but satisfying in an overstuffed blockbuster sort of way.”
Jenna Busch at IGN gives the film a 75. She writes, “Jumanji: The Next Level is a blast. Instead of relying solely on its proven premise, we get to know more about the kids and the adults playing the game. There are still moments of silliness, but there is also a whole lot of heart here.”
Ben Travis at Empire gives the film a 60. He writes, “It doesn’t have the surprise factor of the last film and sometimes feels rough around the edges, but The Next Level pushes its body-swap antics even further to deliver just as many laughs.”
Peter Bradshaw at The Guardian gives the film a 60. He writes, “What gives Jumanji its likability is that it has the emphases and comedy beats of an animation, but also the performance technique of live action – and the occasional reshuffling of avatars and players lets the actors show off a little bit further. Jumanji’s next level is rather satisfying.”
Roger Moore at Movie Nation gives the film a 50. He writes, “The Next Level is a game too glitchy to stick with long enough to finish, so limited in appeal that it’d be under the tree Christmas Eve, consigned to a closet or basement storage by New Year’s.”
John DeFore at The Hollywood Reporter gives the film a 50. He writes, “A large part of the first film’s pleasure came from watching adult actors, very sure in their screen personae, pretend to be children who were awed (or disgusted, as the case may be) by their new bodies and abilities. This time around, that getting-to-know-you phase is much less fun.”
Jack Cole at Slant gives the film a 25. He writes, “For all the emphasis on video game characters who can be swapped out on a whim, it’s the players themselves who come across as the most thinly drawn and interchangeable beneath their avatars.”
What do you make of these reviews and scores for Jumanji: The Next Level