Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Directed by Jake Kasdan
No · Based
How we score movies →Consciousness Markers
The cast includes Black and Asian actors alongside white leads, but this diversity appears incidental rather than thematic. The film makes no statement about representation itself.
Female characters exist in the narrative (Karen Gillan, Awkwafina, Morgan Turner) but the film makes no particular feminist argument or commentary about gender dynamics.
While the cast includes actors of various races, the film contains no exploration of racial themes, history, or contemporary race relations. Race is simply not a subject of interest.
The film contains no moments where characters deliver speeches about social justice or moral lessons about inequality. Entertainment value is prioritized over instruction.
The film contains no critique of capitalism, wealth inequality, or corporate power. It is itself a product designed to maximize corporate profit.
The cast displays relatively conventional Hollywood physiques. There is no deliberate body representation beyond what commercial casting would naturally produce.
There is no environmental messaging or climate consciousness present in this fantasy adventure film set in a video game world.
There are no LGBTQ+ themes, characters, or plot elements of any significance in this adventure comedy.
There is no representation of neurodivergence or any engagement with disability or neurological difference as a plot element.
Set in a fantasy game world, the film contains no historical narrative that could be revised or reinterpreted through a modern lens.
Synopsis
As the gang 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 in order to escape the world's most dangerous game.
Why it received this score
Jumanji: The Next Level operates as a fairly standard blockbuster adventure comedy, content to entertain without imposing any particular social consciousness upon its narrative. The film assembles a cast that includes actors of various ethnic backgrounds, though this diversity appears largely incidental to the story rather than integral to its themes. Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black carry the film through a series of CGI-laden set pieces and comedic banter, with Karen Gillan and Awkwafina providing additional star power. Nothing about the film's construction suggests any deliberate engagement with modern progressive sensibilities.
The narrative itself remains aggressively apolitical. There is no examination of systemic issues, no commentary on power structures or historical injustice, no exploration of identity politics beyond surface-level casting. The film exists in a consequence-free fantasy space where the primary concerns are adventure and humor. Gender representation, while present, does not constitute any particular statement. The body types on display conform largely to conventional Hollywood standards. One might observe that the film makes no effort to alienate its audience through the insertion of moral lectures or political positioning.
This is a film designed to move merchandise and generate box office returns, and it succeeds on those terms. It represents the current state of mainstream entertainment: diverse enough to avoid criticism, but not so invested in social commentary as to risk alienating any segment of its potential audience. The film is uncommitted to anything beyond its own commercial interests.
Analysis generated by our Consciousness Algorithm
Critic Reviews
“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.”
“Jumanji: The Next Level is a fast-paced thrill ride, and fans of the original will not be dissatisfied. The writing is just as smart as the first, and the main cast revives its original magic.”
“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.”
“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.”