Once again, the actors doing impressions/playing against type is the best thing the film has going for it.
Jack Black stole the last movie, this time that award goes to Kevin Hart (first two acts) and Awkwafina (final third).
Having said that, the movie that's build around the impression comedy isn't as good, nor fun, as last time.
The story takes the T2 approach of making a sequel, i.e. switch the roles that everyone plays, and keep the story the same.
Unfortunately, the approach can't save the film from its own poor choices regarding the filmmaking.
The action in this is quite poor, to which some people will undoubtedly respond: well, it's supposed to be cheesy.
To be fair, I probably would've given a pass for it if there was an analog charm to it, but I just refuse to do that for lazy, digitized ugliness.
Moreover, the comedy isn't as sharp and witty as it was before.
Surprisingly, there's a lot of reliance on slapstick, which almost makes it feel like this was made for a younger demographic than the last one.
There's not a single scene that matches Karen Gillan's outstanding seduction scene from the previous film.
Also, there's a lot of expository dialogue that shouldn't be there.
Finally, the ending begs for comparisons to [spoiler] _Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom_ [/spoiler], which makes me go: out of anything you could've done, why on earth would you willingly choose to go there?

4.5/10

This movie was great and I absolutely loved it. I wasn't too sure going into it as I haven't seen any of the other Jumanji movies and I know that may sound bad seen as though this is a sequel but I feel like this did well as a stand alone aswell as a follow on from a previous movie.

Acting: the acting in this movie was superb and it contained some very big names. From someone like Dwayne Johnson to the wonderful actress Karen Gillan the cast was very well picked out and I found all of them to have very believable characters.
some negatives however was that the acting was lackluster in some part but these points were very minimal.

Storyline: the storyline was very thought out and contained serious but also funny moments. These funny moments also didn't seem very forced as opposed to some other films which try and be funny for the sake of it. This seemed more like natural comedy instead of forced comedy.
The ending did leave the idea that there could be another sequel and that is one thing that did strike a bit of a problem with me as I feel although this story was good it doesn't need to carry on any longer in my opinion.

Overall, great movie

The film is punchy, landing some great jokes that will make you laugh out loud, with an entertaining, slightly predictable story. It wasn’t as good as the first 'Jumanji', but it is a great quality sequel and is full of family fun!
- Lily Meek

Read Lily's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-jumanji-the-next-level-adventure-sequel-is-serious-family-fun

When it comes to constructing a successful sequel, sometimes it’s best not to mess with a proven formula. Such is the case with “Jumanji: The Next Level,” an energetic, rollicking, ridiculously amusing part two to the much-loved 2017 reboot (and surprise hit), “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” The storyline is nearly identical, but with a few twists thrown in for added amusement.

Now in college, buddies Spencer (Alex Wolff), Martha (Morgan Turner), Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), and Bethany (Madison Iseman) are home for the holidays and can’t wait to see each other again. Spencer has been feeling a little depressed lately and, longing to feel that unbridled bravery again, decides to jump back into the game. It quickly becomes a rescue mission and the others must follow to get him out. But this time, the game has changed. Not only are the levels more challenging, the gang has unexpectedly picked up a couple of extra players — Spencer’s Grandpa Eddie (Danny DeVito) and his longtime friend Milo (Danny Glover).

The film was made for fans of the reboot, and it’s nearly impossible to be disappointed this second time around. It’s a fun reunion with likeable characters that you love spending time with. There are appropriate and enjoyable callback references to previous movie and, something that is rarely true of sequels, the quality stands up to it as well.

When the story adds a fun twist that mixes things up a bit, it allows the actors to really chew the scenery. All of the characters are out of whack, with only Martha going back into the game as her original character, the dance-fighting man-killer known as Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan). Fridge is now the overweight cartographer Professor Shelly Oberon (Jack Black), and Grandpa Eddie has taken over as the hunky and fearless Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson). Zoologist Mouse Finbar (Kevin Hart) is now Milo, while Spencer re-enters the story as a brand new character (and one of the film’s best surprises).

It’s a given that Black will bring guaranteed laughs, but Hart and Johnson have very funny comedic timing and they play off each other so well. Their banter is consistently hilarious, especially when they are channeling their elderly avatar inhabitants. DeVito and his cantankerous shtick is a huge upgrade, as he delivers some of the biggest chortles in his all-too-brief supporting role.

There are plenty of exciting action sequences that complement the fast-paced fantasy adventure. The sense of real peril serves the film well, because it ramps up the emotional factor. So does the idea that friendship can foster a family, and by the end, this one will tug on your heartstrings.

The film gets right to the good stuff without a long or boring setup, and the story is roughly the same as its predecessor. There’s not much new plot-wise, but who cares when a movie is this much of a wild, entertaining ride?

Not as good as the other one. I didn't like the whole switching characters. If they would have left that part out, it would have been way better.