First ‘Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle’ Reactions Are Positive

The first social media reactions to 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' have hit the web and they tease a funny, worthwhile video game adventure.

The original Jumanji film starring Robin Williams is still fresh in the minds of a lot of film fans, even more than 20 years after its original release. Now its sequel Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which takes the concept of a board game coming to life and fuses it with a video game setting, is nearly upon us and the early buzz from those who have seen the Sony film indicates that we’re in for some solid fun.

Now that the social media embargo has been lifted, critics and fans alike are flocking to twitter to share some of their thoughts on the new film. You can check out some of the reactions below!

Was expecting the worst but have to admit the new #JUMANJI movie is a lot of fun. I’d even say it is one of the best “video game movies” ever made, maybe under only King of Kong, Scott Pilgrim, Edge of Tomorrow & Wreck It Ralph (none of which are adaptations). — Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) November 27, 2017

Happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle. It's fun and funny in equal measure, and makes smart use of its great stars. Not much of a universe-builder for a fantasy sequel, but definitely a reinvention that works. pic.twitter.com/2I0vPg4zt3 — Eric Eisenberg Wears A Mask (@eeisenberg) November 27, 2017

Saw #Jumanji! It's light on nostalgia (besides a handful of Easter eggs), but a lot of fun. The body swap stuff is SO good. Could watch Jack Black play a teenage girl stuck in Jack Black's body, or @TheRock newly discover his muscles, forever. #WelcomeToTheJungle pic.twitter.com/yRIoQsWASV — Mike Rougeau (@RogueCheddar) November 27, 2017

#Jumanji was a ton of fun. Great nods to the original. Jack Black steals it. @TheRock and @KevinHart4real need to keep working together. And YO I love @karengillan! — BD (@BrandonDavisBD) November 27, 2017

got to see #Jumanji and it is fun as heck! @TheRock totally steals the show, but everyone gets a chance to shine. — Zachary Ryan (@ZachariusD) November 27, 2017

There’s a lot of laughs and heart in #Jumanji. Cast has some pretty special chemistry and the game angle totally works. Props to @TheRock @KevinHart4real @karengillan and Jack Black for playing kids so well! — Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) November 27, 2017

I can now say that the biggest surprise of the holiday season is #Jumanji. It's super entertaining & very funny w/ terrific cast chemistry (especially b/t @TheRock & @KevinHart4real). Video game fans will dig it even more. See it w/ the whole family pic.twitter.com/e6FOPwjsB5 — Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) November 27, 2017

From the sound of it, the consensus is that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a worthy follow-up that respects what came before without being too reliant on nostalgia. Jack Black seems to be the biggest scene-stealer, but most would agree that the entire cast pull off the comedy well and convincingly play the roles of teenagers in avatar bodies.

Are you looking forward to seeing the new Jumanji when it comes out next month? Let us know what you think in the comment section!

When four high-school kids discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of – Jumanji – they are immediately drawn into the game’s jungle setting, literally becoming the avatars they chose: gamer Spencer becomes a brawny adventurer; football jock Fridge loses (in his words) “the top two feet of his body” and becomes an Einstein; popular girl Bethany becomes a middle-aged male professor; and wallflower Martha becomes a badass warrior. What they discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji – you must survive it. To beat the game and return to the real world, they’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago, and change the way they think about themselves – or they’ll be stuck in the game forever…

Directed by Jake Kasdan, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Rhys Darby, Morgan Turner, Tom Matheson, Bobby Cannavale and Nick Jonas.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle will be released in theaters on December 20, 2017.