Four high school students are ordered to clean out the school's basement during detention. Amongst the junk left untouched for years the kids find a gaming console that plays a game called Jumanji. They each select a character and find themselves trapped in the video game world. Germophobic nerd Spencer becomes dashing archaeologist Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson). Football player Fridge becomes diminutive valet Mouse Finbar (Kevin Hart). Cellphone-obsessed Bethany becomes tubby cartographer Shelley Oberon (Jack Black). Socially awkward girl Martha becomes ass-kicking fighter Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan). Together the four heroes must find a lost jewel called the Jaguar's Eye and return it to its rightful place to lift the curse that has befallen the world of Jumanji.

How many people actually thought that this movie would end up being so successful? It was a reboot-sequel to a beloved movie that nobody asked for. I liked the original Jumanji just fine, but I wouldn't say it was a childhood favourite or anything. I thought this movie's trailer looked pretty neat the first time I saw it. The idea of actors playing against type always interests me and it is always fun to see Dwayne Johnson being silly. That goes the same for the rest of the actors. Well, maybe not Kevin Hart. This was the first thing I had ever seen him in, so maybe I need to see more of his stuff to decide whether I like him or not.

It's pretty tough for me to decide which of the other three main characters I like the most. Dwayne Johnson is great in everything. I only started to care about the Fast and the Furious series when he joined up. I loved seeing him play a wimpy nerd who is scared of everything. He did get to have the big hero moment at the end though. Jack Black nailed playing a vacuous teenage girl. His character ends up teaching Karen Gillan's character how to flirt with boys. That's right, jack Black teaches Karen Gillan how to hit it off with boys. Karen Gillan's hilariously inept attempts to use her feminine wiles to distract some guards were another highlight of the entire movie.

My rating: 3.5 stars.