Jumanji

It plays better than it reviews — the watch lands harder than the write-ups suggest.

• “As for Williams himself, his wild-man routine is only in evidence in his opening scenes; otherwise he dials it down, perhaps sensing that the way to upstage the loony creatures is to be relatively rational. There is something touchingly innocent in his performance.”

  Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian · 80

• “The result is a thrill ride with enough plunges and turns and loop-the-loops to make it worth a spin. What the picture lacks is the magic and resonance you feel in the best of popular entertainments.”

  Walter Addiego, San Francisco Examiner · 75

• “Regrettably, however, the weird elegance of Chris Van Allsburg's much-praised picture book has been all but lost in translation.”

  Staff(not credited), TV Guide Magazine · 63

• “Based on a popular children's book by Chris Van Allsburg and directed by that "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" guy Joe Johnston, Jumanji is a calculated but very entertaining special effects extravaganza. [15Dec1995 Pg. 01.D]”

  Mike Clark, USA Today · 63

• “Eschewing warm, cuddly imagery just as Mr. Van Allsburg's book does, the film affects a strange, artificial style that has the invasive weirdness of "Gremlins" but none of the charm.”

  Janet Maslin, The New York Times · 60