"Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" - Adventure, Comedy & Mormon Life Lessons

***SPOILER ALERT***

It's been a looong time since a movie has moved me enough to take the time to blog about it (see Selma blog post). I was so excited when I first saw the trailer for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) because I remember enjoying the original Jumanji (1995) as a kid. I had really high expectations going in (which is always risky) but they were greatly exceeded and I even saw it twice in theaters within 4 days, the 2nd time by myself so I can focus on "researching" for this blog post. When I really love something, I can get pretty nerdy about it. 

If you haven't seen it, get on it! You won't regret it :) To me, it's pretty close to a perfect movie. It has:

• A unique interesting storyline
• Complex character development
• Edge-of-your-seat adventure
• Sweet romance
• Side-splitting comedy
• Impressive special effects & stunts
• Many references to the original movie but updated for a contemporary audience
• Deep timeless moral lessons...which is the focus of this blog

So let me break down the profound life principles I felt were so well exemplified in this movie: 

1) We all have unique sets of strengths/weaknesses and we need each other

The writers did an excellent job of introducing the characters individually at the beginning because character development is central to the whole movie. The 4 main characters are first portrayed as stereotypical high schoolers: Fridge (the popular, academically inept football star bully/cheater), Spencer (the socially awkward, physically weak, timid nerd), Martha (the cynical, unathletic, defiant judgmental nerd), and Bethany (the beautiful, self-absorbed ditzy blonde). 

When they casually choose their video game avatars for Jumanji, they're put in bodies and given attributes that completely contrast their original selves. 

• Spencer becomes Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), a strong, large, attractive, fearless leader. 
• Fridge becomes Franklin "Mouse" Finbar (Kevin Hart) a short, weak, slow but smart sidekick to Spencer. 
• Martha becomes Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan) a beautiful athletic, graceful martial artist. 
• Bethany becomes Professor Sheldon Oberon (Jack Black) a short, fat, unattractive middle-aged man. 

They all have a specific set of strengths and weaknesses that they need to be aware of, as well as be aware of each others'. As much as they drive each other crazy, they know their attributes are complementary and crucial to their survival and completion of the game so they can escape Jumanji. 

How often are we stubbornly independent and try to do everything on our own? How often do we let our pride get in the way of asking for help when we need it? How often do we dwell on our weaknesses and overlook our strengths? How often are we jealous of others' strengths instead of celebrating them and learning from them? 

The kids are told when they enter Jumanji that they must use the map to find the missing piece, which they thought was a physical piece of the map. But it turns out to be another character (Alex Vreeke who became Jefferson "Seaplane" McDonough, played by Nick Jonas) who got trapped in the game 20 years ago and can't get past a certain level on his own. My favorite part of the movie is watching the 5 characters work together as they practice humility, encourage each other to overcome fears, teach each other their strengths, develop respect for differences, and unite to reach a common goal. 

We find this lesson of unity throughout Christian and Mormon scripture:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (New Testament, 1 Corinthians 1:10)

"Be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity." (The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 1:21)

2) We willingly sacrifice for people we care about

Each character is given 3 lives in the game of Jumanji. Alex is stuck in Jumanji because he has used up his 2 lives and only has 1 left to spare, which he is afraid to risk. The other 4 characters help him overcome his fear so he can use his strength of flying to help them all progress in the game. But right after they get to the next level, he dies by a single mosquito bite because that's his weakness. Bethany, who has developed a crush on him and hopes to get to know him more in real life after the game, starts giving him CPR to try to save him. Martha points out to Bethany that she seems to be transferring one of her lives to Alex and Bethany says, "That's ok, I want him to come home too." 

I don't think it's a stretch to say Bethany performed a Christ-like sacrifice. Alex literally would have died in the game and in real life if she had not performed that saving act for him, which was done out of love and unselfishness. It was a beautiful moment in the movie when a character whose main attribute was selfishness and disregard for others immediately jumped to the rescue for someone she loved. It points to Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, who was always selfless, who loved each person perfectly, and who performed the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (New Testament, John 3:16)

3) We have one life and we get to choose who we want to be

They get to the last level of the game before they can put the jewel into the Jaguar's Eye and Spencer (Dr. Bravestone) seems to be the chosen one to complete the task which requires him to go thru a treacherous patch of jungle defended by jaguars. He pulls Fridge (Mouse Finbar) aside and says he's scared because he only has 1 life left and he's not really this brave underneath the avatar. Fridge gives him the same pep talk their principle gave them before sending them to detention that they [always] only have one life and they get to choose who they want to be. Obviously, this adage takes on a bigger riskier meaning in the game. Spencer chooses to live by his alter ego and be brave only after Fridge agrees that they'll work together. 

We all have many sides of us that come out in different situations. Sometimes we feel confident we can tackle anything. Some days we focus on our insecurities and feel insignificant by comparison to those around us. Some days the future looks bright and promising. On other days, we despair at a gloomy outcome and doubt ourselves. Sometimes we feel fully devoted to God and will submit completely to His will. Other times, we don't understand His will or feel it's too hard and we'd rather do our own thing. Most of us have probably experienced all of these feelings and they swirl within us. But as Joshua of the Old Testament said - 

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

4) We must live in the real world

After they completed the game and can go back home to reality, Spencer hesitates because he likes this alter ego. It's allowed him to be brave and confess his admiration to Martha, his crush of many years. She lovingly says, "Then let's be like this in real life. Let's go home." 

When real life seems too overwhelming, as nice as it is to escape to other worlds that seem easier and more fun, we must come back to reality. Books, social media, theater, video games, movies, TV shows, even dating sites...we have many forms of entertainment and escapism that help us forget the stresses and responsibilities of our actual lives. They can provide much needed mental breaks and relaxation to help us recharge to face the world. It only becomes a problem when we don't come back to reality because it seems too hard. 

In Mormon doctrine, we believe that each of us were spirits in Heaven who chose to come to Earth to fulfill Heavenly Father's plan of giving us physical bodies in which we can gain important experiences, prove our faith, and progress back to Him. 

"This life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God." (Book of Mormon, Alma 12:24)

"And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation—that by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life." (Doctrine & Covenants 29:43)

5) It takes courage to live up to our names

Each avatar name is very descriptive of their character attributes. Even the characters who seemed to have lost their real world strengths and been demoted to lesser characters in the game have names that tell their strengths. Franklin "Mouse" Finbar is short and slow but without his expert zoology knowledge that he spouts out involuntarily, they all could have died at multiple junctions. Professor Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon is physically unattractive but is the only one who can see and interpret the map, without which they would all be literally lost. And I LOVE the part at the end already mentioned in lesson #3 when Spencer chooses to live up to his name of Dr. Bravestone, which he chose to take on before he got sucked into Jumanji. He may have subconsciously chose a name that represents a trait he felt he lacked. 

All of us who were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chose to take on the name of Jesus Christ. We covenanted to strive to keep His commandments and follow His example so we can become like Him. And none of us will say it is easy! It takes a great deal of sustaining faith, humility, diligence, patience, obedience, hope, and courage to live up to His name. And we must constantly call upon God for help, but we know it is the ultimate goal in life and worth the effort.

"There is non other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (New Testament, Acts 4:12)

"Blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world." (Book of Mormon, Ether 4:19)

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I love this movie. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love being a Mormon who loves movies because as Christ said in Doctrine & Covenants 29:34 "all things unto me are spiritual".