62. Jumanji; movie review

 

JUMANJI

Cert PG

100 mins

BBFC advice: Contains mild fantasy horror

Jumanji was one of the most popular films of our son and daughter's young childhood.

So much so that they named their hamster after it.

Not that it was as lively as the monkeys, rhinos, bats, elephants and mosquitos in Joe Johnston's movie.

Indeed, we will never forget the day friends visited with their little girls and we suggested that Miss W show them her pet, Jumanji.

Moments later she appeared in our garden in floods of tears. When they had gone to see him he was stiff, on his back on the floor of his cage with his feet in the air. He was an ex-hamster,

I recount this true story to raise a smile but also because most people have seen this 1995 film, starring Robin Williams and there is little I can add.

If you haven't, it is a classic and I heartily recommend a catch-up.

Jumanji is the name of a board game which is so intense that, in the film's opening scenes, it is being hidden by two boys in the hope that it never re-merges.

That was in the 19th century and more than 100 years on, young Alan Parrish (Adam Hann-Byrd) finds the game buried at building works near his dad's factory.

He plays the game with a friend and after the second roll of the dice, he is sucked into it.

Twenty-six years later, he emerges from it as an adult, portrayed by Williams, as it is played again by two children (Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce).

Aside of Alan, the game brings forth myriad jungle animals who cause chaos in town.

To bring it to an end the trio have to find the friend (Bonnie Hunt) who has been traumatised since she witnessed Alan's disappearance as a child.

Anyway, there is a very wild ride as they try to complete it.

Intriguingly, this is a rather subdued Williams' performance by comparison to other hits such as Mrs Doubtfire and Good Morning Vietnam.

And the special effects are very clunky by comparison to the modern day.

Nevertheless, it was great to be reminded what a wonderful ride Jumanji is.

Reasons to watch: Classic adventure movie

Reasons to avoid: Clunky special effects

Laughs: One

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? The concept for Jumanji was based on a 1981 picture book by Chris van Allsburg

The final word. Joe Johnston: "I was a little apprehensive at first, based on what I’d heard about Robin and how he wants to ad-lib and go crazy. It wasn’t like that at all. He understood that he needed to be this very critical part of the machine. It was a tightly structured story. He never went out of the box." New York Times

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