[three-star-rating]Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Irfan Khan, Vincent D’Onfrio, B.D. Wong[/three-star-rating]
RAAWRR!
Many of us remember how visually stunning – and how LOUD – the first Jurassic film was.
The next two films devolved into lesser, dumber animals, and now Jurassic World hopes to breathe new life into the franchise. This flick is serviceable but convoluted, built on the DNA of the original – marked by cloying teenagers and bits of subversive humor. It may not absolutely devour us like Spielberg’s beast 22 years ago, but parts of this – especially the over-the-top ending – sure are fun!
Don’t let those brats at the beginning get you down, though, because the film improves as it goes along.
Teenaged brothers Simpkins and Robinson are sent on vacation while their parents sort out their divorce. The cookie-cutter kids arrive to spend some time with auntie Howard, who now runs the show on Isla Nublar.
Wait, what?!?! Didn’t Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum both strongly warn in the early films that making this a theme park was a terrible idea? Well, yes, they did! But by now, everyone’s seemingly forgotten the tragedies of over two decades ago.
Apparently, the park operators have handled the safety concerns and hidden the previous carnage, and people are showing up in droves. However, the place isn’t quite turning a profit, so super-busy Howard pushes her scientists to create a super-dino – one that’s never existed before. It’s called Indominus Rex, Howard’s also working her butt off to get Verizon Wireless to sponsor it.
Great…so they created something bigger and tougher than the T. Rex? Yep!
Perhaps the only one who can save the day is ex-Navy man Pratt. He’s been spending months on the island, secretly training raptors – those evil, quick beasts that so scared us from the first film.
Of course, the U.S. military is also curious to see if dinosaurs can be used for war. D’Onfrio is secretly hoping for chaos to put the trained raptors out for some battle testing.
Pratt does a damn good job delivering Han Solo-style swagger. Unfortunately, Howard comes off as less stellar, sort of a low-end Jessica Chastain. It might be admirable that she’s the boss, but she soon turns into a damsel in distress.
What we really didn’t need are the boring teenagers and their common problems. Aren’t there more creative ways of creating audience empathy than using bland kids?
Things get piled on till everything breaks out into an eye-popping Godzilla-like battle of beasts. Not only do we get the new monster; we get raptors, pterodactyls, ankylosauruses, and many other old favorites.
[rating-key]
Despite some HUGE plot holes (just don’t think about the lawsuits), director Colin Trevorrow does so many things right with his first big-budget flick. He makes sly fun of theme parks and corporate sponsorship. He puts all the pieces into motion for that silly, elaborate – and very LOUD – ending.
Honestly, though, Jurassic World just would’ve been better if he, the writers, or maybe some dinosaurs had killed those annoying kids
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