Jumanji: The Next Level (Jake Kasdan) - 2019

The gang is back - that is the gang from the second Jumanji in 2017.  This one is just as good as number 2.  The trio of Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black are the ones who really make the franchise work.  The next level of the game adds characters, situations and new rules that make Jumanji the greatest game ever that could never happen.  It is pure escapism and fun because we all know how it will end even though the players are not so sure.  New to the franchise are Danny DeVito, Danny Glover and Awkwafina who introduce more possibilities for the next Jumanji and the ones after that.  And, if the producers can sign all these great actors for Jumanji IV, we can look forward to another great ride in 2021 (?).  For me, this is what movies should be: adventure, humor, character identification and everybody lives happily ever after until somebody gets stuck in that game again.  [JAM 1/10/2020]