
We don't need a "curvy" cartographer to read where this map will lead audiences. Granted, it's easy to predict and see the conclusion charging at us from a mile away. class and insulted the teacher, and Bethany (Madison Iseman), the arrogant, self-centered popular girl who can't live without her phone, even during a quiz.

(The board game is apparently smart enough to adapt to the times and needs of the younger generation.) At detention, they meet Martha (Morgan Turner), who earlier refused to participate in P.E. The most dangerous thing he's ever done is help his childhood friend "Fridge" (Ser'Darius Blain), the stereotypical football jock who's more brawn than brains, plagiarize an essay, which lands both boys in detention where Spencer discovers a vintage video game console. Our central protagonist is Spencer (Alex Wolff), the archetypal nerd with allergies and phobias to nearly everything - too afraid to live life and take risks, basically. They are four uniquely different teenagers with four distinctly contrasting personalities and personal dilemmas they are tasked with overcoming, which is in line with both the book and its 1995 adaptation's theme. Part of the plot's brilliance is the characters themselves.

Perhaps even more surprising is that the adventure production about modern adolescence is a total blast, one of the most fun movies of 2017 and bordering on genius, becoming the rare sequel that's better than the original. But here we are with a movie that also features penis jokes and a verbal gag about one character's first experience with an erection. Thirty years ago, the hard-rock band was considered risqué and indicative of a troubled, sinful youth, and featuring their song in a family-friendly adventure flick would have been quite controversial. I'm referring to the movie's title alluding to Guns 'N Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" and the actual song later used during the end credits, which was also used for the promotional trailers. I'm not talking about young moviegoers who grew up watching the original movie suddenly realizing the Robin Williams fantasy favorite is turning 23 later this year.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is evidence of me not only growing old but that times have drastically changed in a direction I never would have predicted.
