Culture

Classic Film

A nostalgic 90s’ classic, which I’m sure many of us have been revisiting in the weeks since Robin William’s death. The film is about a magical board game named Jumanji, which conjures deadly jungle-related things with each roll of the dice. There are killer mosquitoes, lions, carnivorous plants, etc., and the only way to get rid of them is by finishing the game. Four characters (played by Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce) wind up playing Jumanji, and must attempt to complete it while escaping the terrors it throws at them.

As an adult, I can no longer pretend Jumanji is the flawless masterpiece I once thought it was; the first 15 minutes feel like a Goosebumps episode, the ending raises all sorts of logistical questions, and the “face your fears” message is a bit too simplistic for a movie that features so much danger that one would be well-advised to run away from. Also, the villain is played by the same actor who plays the protagonist’s father, with no in-story explanation, bringing with it a Freudian WTF factor that probably doesn’t belong in a kid’s movie.

However, the things that are still awesome about Jumanji outweigh any faults. The characters are well fleshed-out and entertaining to watch; Williams and Hunt are both just as adept at drama as they are at comedy, and they strike the perfect balance. There’s some real suspense as well, and the special effects are generally pretty amazing. And I think a big part of why I loved this movie so much as a kid was that the action sequences are taken just as seriously as those in movies for adults. They are just as imaginative, well-constructed, suspenseful, and entertaining.

Jumanji drew some criticism for being too scary for young children, which is understandable. But there’s a lot of heart and comedy that balances the scares, and for kids who aren’t old enough for Kill Bill, it offers a level of action and excitement that most other family films don’t.