JUMANJI
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Copyright 1995 Mark R. Leeper
Capsule: A diabolical board game unleashes a
world of action, adventure, and horror in a
surprisingly satisfying family film. One at a time
the game releases the threats from a story-book
African safari into a small New England town. This
could have been played for laughs, but a generally
witty and well-written script turns this film into
a real action ride. Rating: +2 (-4 to +4).
I was not expecting big things from JUMANJI. The coming attractions make it look like taking the basic concept of HELLRAISER-- the plaything that releases a world of horror--and crossing it with something like THE ZEBRA IN THE KITCHEN, where animals on the loose cause havoc. And in the final analysis perhaps that is not too inaccurate a description. But there is considerably more wit and a whole lot more style to this tale. After an opening scene in the 1860s with two children trying desperately to rid themselves of a mysterious box, it is rediscovered in 1969 by Alan Parrish. Parrish (played by Adam Hann-Byrd) has problems enough. He is bullied by his peers and dominated by a dictatorial father who seems to run much of the town and cannot relate to a child. But young Alan does not know trouble until he plays the game and on his first move is sucked into "the jungle" where he remains for twenty-six years. Only it really is a jungle and twenty-six years really does pass. The disappearance remains an unsolved mystery. And with a whiff of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, much of the town has degenerated as a result. Now a new family has moved into the house, Aunt Nora (Bebe Neuwirth) and the recently orphaned Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce). The two children unwittingly start the game again and release (among other things) the missing Alan (now played by Robin Williams). Unfortunately, each roll of the dice also releases some safari hazard into the real world. Most of these dangers escape the house and into the town. Like the towns in GREMLINS or NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, it is slowly to coming to realize that something strange and very dangerous is happening. And the only way to save the town is to finish the game so all the horrors can return to the game board. Yet with each roll of the dice some new disaster escapes the game into the real world. Each might be bad, but the cumulative effect is startling.
The visual effects from Industrial Light and Magic are impressive but not altogether realistic. The digitized animals are clearly just that and in addition, the monkeys look more like Curious George than real monkeys. They are never totally convincing but as storybook safari dangers they work just fine. This is a film in which many scenes involving the magic of the game have a very nice look.
The visuals could overwhelm the characters, but the script by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain, based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, never lets that happen. After a shaky start with Robin Williams looking like the castaway from "Monty Python's Flying Circus," he gives some real humanity to his role and does not indulge in the usual Williams schtick. Kirsten Dunst is fairly good but JUMANJI must be child's play after her meaty performance in INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE. Bebe Neuwirth manages some nice touches as Aunt Nora. It is the kind of role that usually goes unnoticed--friendly adult supervision in a film for children--but someone in the script department was looking out for her. Joe Johnston was a good choice for director with a sense for integrating human performances with visual effects. He was the art director for visual effects on THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI. As director he made HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS and the underrated ROCKETEER. He manages very well here, though his direction was weakened for me by some slapstick late in the movie.
Parents should be warned that just the horror touches that will delight ten-year-olds will be strong stuff for five-year-olds. Adults are warned not to not to leave children at the theater or they may miss out on the fun. I give this one a +2 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
mark.leeper@att.com
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