Jumanji: The Next Level – Review

Jumanji: The Next Level – Budget of $125 million – 2 hours and 3 minutes

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Bethany is exploring the world and building houses in other countries.  Anthony, aka Fridge, is doing two-a-days as a student-athlete.  Martha is having fun at college and no longer feels like an outcast.  But she and Spencer have taken a break from their relationship.  Spencer attends NYU but his asthma and fears have multiplied.  He feels hopeless at his job and alone at school.  The four go home for winter break and plan to meet up at Nora’s cafe.  Spencer’s grandfather, Eddie is staying with Spencer and his mother to heal after a hip surgery.  Spencer tries to explain to Eddie why he broke up with Martha and he gets an idea.  He wants to be brave again, so he gets the game console from his basement and tries to fix it.  The next morning, Milo comes to visit Eddie.  Eddie is underwhelmed, to say the least.  Eddie is angry about their past and expects Milo to apologize, which Eddie pledges to never accept.  When Spencer doesn’t make their brunch date, Martha, Bethany, and Anthony go over to Spencer’s house.  Anthony introduces the ladies to Eddie.  Then, Eddie bluntly introduces everyone to Milo.  They start to look for Spencer and they hear the drums.  They see the game console in the basement and deduce Spencer went back in the game.  Martha says they have to go back and get him.  Bethany agrees and Fridge is pissed.  Martha grabs the controller, it shocks her, and they get pulled into Jumanji.  In the game, Martha is Ruby Roundhouse, killer of men with one extra strength.  But something has changed.  Anthony is Prof. Shelly Oberon and he has new strengths and weaknesses.  Eddie is Dr. Bravestone with his first weakness.  Milo is Mouse Finbar with one new strength.  They notice Bethany is missing.  Bethany, unlike the others, was never pulled into the game.  So, she goes to an old friend to help her get into Jumanji.  Inside the game, Nigel Billingsly tells them Jurgen the Brutal, the man that killed Dr. Bravestone’s parents, stole the Falcon’s Heart causing a drought in Jumanji.  They need to get the Falcon’s Heart from Jurgen and expose it to the sun.  After saving Jumanji, they must call out its name.  Simple enough, right?

The sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has ostriches, mandrills, and camels, oh my.  This movie is as funny as the first and adds more layers to the characters.  Everyone’s personal issues cause problems within the game.  The original group has more personal struggles than struggles with each other.  But Eddie has a problem with Milo that has spanned decades.  Like video games, the writers expanded the world of Jumanji with new environments, powers, avatars, and clothes.  You will get the characters you love and be introduced to new ones. Seeing Jack Black play 3 characters in one movie is amazing.  He changes the walk, speech, and mannerisms for all three.   Other characters play dual roles within the movie with ease.  You will be laughing at the generational gap and overall antics.  The action outweighs the first movie with a car chase and revolving bridges.  See this one today.  Like Nigel said, everyone does not make it out alive.  Stay for the post-credit scene but don’t stay after the end crawl.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

Don’t tell your mother – Eddie

And yes, I would like a cup of coffee. Thanks for asking – Milo

It’s complicated – Spencer

I don’t think he went out. I think he went back in – Martha

I need your help – Bethany

Ho, Ho, Ho – Anthony

Did I kill Eddie by talking too slow – Mouse Finbar

Nothing to see here – Dr. Bravestone

Man, it was like the first thing I did – Ruby Roundhouse

I just have to do 5 burpees – Prof. Shelly Oberon

I bet your friend Ming can’t do that – Ming

Now, that is cool – Seaplane McDonough

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Richard Jewell – Review

Richard Jewell – Budget of $45 million – 2 hours and 9 minutes

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In 1986, Richard Jewell worked as a supply room clerk. Attorney Watson Bryant noticed Richard had a keen sense for details. Watson gave Richard the nickname Radar. While Watson was preparing for a case, Richard came to him and told Watson it was his last day. He got a job in law enforcement.  Watson offered Richard a quid pro quo.  Watson gives him $100 with a promise he wouldn’t become an a$$hole.  Richard promises to give him back the money with interest one day.  Ten years later, Watson is in his office and overhears an interview on TV.  It’s Richard.  He is being hailed a hero.  He discovered a bomb in Centennial Park on July 27 and got many people to safety before it detonated.  After the blast, 2 people died and many more were injured.  During the interview, Richard was quick to praise the work of the doctors, nurses, firefighters, and everyone else who helped.  Watson is proud.  Watson’s phone rings and it’s Richard.  He has been offered a book deal and wants Watson to look over the contract.  Watson tells Richard to agree to nothing and don’t put pen to paper.  He must read it first before Richard signs.  This advice is an angel in disguise.  FBI Agent Tom Shaw has a profile of a lone, white male with a history of police admiration who wants to be seen as a hero.  With information from his last employer, Tom Shaw builds his cases against Richard.  Tom believes Richard planted the bomb, pretended to find it, ran to the phones, called in the bomb threat, and went back to the bomb.  During a meeting with scotch, reporter Kathy Scruggs seduces Tom to get information about the investigation.  He tells Kathy they are looking at Richard as the one and only suspect.  She runs with the story.  Being tried by public opinion, Richard has a few people on his side.  His lawyer Watson, his mother Bobi, and Watson’s secretary Nadya.  It will be months before Richard can clear his name with the public and years before he is cleared in the eyes of the FBI.  If only they had taken a little walk before they accused Richard.

Based on “American Nightmare: The Ballad of Richard Jewell” by Marie Brenner and The Suspect by Kent Alexander and Keven Salwen, it’s so hard to see a system Richard loves and respects so much turn on him (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  Richard has reasons and justification for all their misgivings.  No matter who they effect.  The FBI took his mother Tupperware, her vacuum, and her undergarments to create their case.   Richard tried to explain the FBI actions to his family and friends.   He believes they are the good guys like him.  So you will get upset as Richard volunteers information to the FBI after Watson tells him to keep his mouth shut.  As Richard fights back, you will feel pride bloom in your chest.  The FBI’s mistakes are sadly laughable as it is disgusting.  In a day when sensationalism and clicks determine innocence and guilt, how long until another Richard Jewell is tried by the media?

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

Where I’m from, when the government says a person is guilty, you know they’re innocent – Nadya

You have a loud lawyer, congratulations – Tom

Something’s gonna kill us all eventually – Kathy

He didn’t do it – Watson

It’s a really good book (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer) – Richard

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