Before its release last year, I don't think anyone could have truly predicted how successful Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle would be. The reboot of the 1995 film starring Robin Williams had the nostalgia factor going for it and the blockbuster potency of The Rock, and that's about it. Yet the film has made $945.8 million to date and guaranteed a Jumanji sequel. This is a fascinating performance and the latest Honest Trailer touches on the film's highs and lows while giving a humorous take on Jumanji's shocking success. Check it out below.
I feel like the studio digs at the beginning of these are easily one of the best parts of most Honest Trailers. Making fun of Sony's fledgling attempts to kickstart a franchise with Ghostbusters, The Emoji Movie and The Dark Tower is hilarious and points out the failings the studio had previously trying to do the same thing Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ultimately did. Which makes it all the more ironic that a movie that no one asked for, that could have faced the dreaded 'you ruined my childhood' wrath, ultimately did what other safer bets could not and that's deliver a fun movie and franchise starter. The new trailer, of course, touches on how strange it is that this reboot is essentially Jumanji in name only and succeeds in spite of that.
Although Welcome to the Jungle is wildly different from the original film, it is still taking its cues from what came before and this Honest Trailer rightly skewers the similarities to movies like The Breakfast Club and Moana. I also like how it notes that even when the other actors are playing against type, you only bring Kevin Hart into a film to do one thing, his only thing, and that's to be Kevin Hart and deliver his trademark brand of humor. This trailer also got me thinking how great it would be if all of The Rock's various jungle-based films actually had these great super-hidden Easter eggs referencing each other, or if they all took place in the same universe a la the Tarantino-verse or the View Askewniverse. I'd take an "Alan Parrish Was Here" Easter egg in the upcoming Jungle Cruise movie, if only Disney would go for it.
It may be a sad reality of blockbusters today, but as this trailer points out, there are more misses than hits when it comes to franchise starters, so when such a film is even halfway decent, the returns can be huge. Quality is still king and despite its flaws, Jumanji is a blast that delivers. With, we'll call it Jumanji 3, officially on the way, lets hope that quality continues. Just plain fun adventure movies that are also good aren't as common as they used to be and their universal appeal makes them quite welcome.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is now on home video. Check out our guide to see all of The Rock's upcoming movies.
