The Reel Review
A pharmaceutical executive, a mercenary and a paleontologist journey to Isla Nublar, the now abandoned, mysterious island near the equator where dinosaurs were first recreated from DNA samples decades ago. Their goal: get blood samples from three different giant dinosaur species to develop a heart drug that could save tens of millions of lives. Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey (Wicked) and Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) star in this action/adventure fantasy.
After the two feeble, most recent Jurassic Park sequels – 2022’s dreadful Jurassic World Dominion and 2018’s equally bad Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (both of which were on The Reelness 10 Worst lists for their respective years), this latest installment does feel like a welcomed rebirth of the franchise despite having a largely recycled storyline and being very predictable – you can easily guess within seconds of seeing each new character whether they will survive or become dinosaur food. It’s also an eyeroll when a father, his two daughters and the older daughter’s lazy ass boyfriend become unlikely expedition tagalongs when their boat capsizes during a dinosaur attack.
Director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Godzilla) has a few too many corny moments and some nauseatingly cutesy interaction between the youngest daughter and an adopted baby dinosaur pet, but even so, the film still ticks all the mindless entertainment boxes with lots of pulse-pounding suspense, a nice variety of dinosaurs, subtle hints of the iconic score, a very game Johansson as the badass mercenary and the oh-so-cute Bailey as the nerdy scientist. There’s nothing new in this blatant cash grab, but it’s nice to see the franchise get a least a bit back on track after the past couple of disastrous installments.
REEL FACTS
• This is the first Jurassic Park sequel not to have any cast members return from prior films.
• Scarlett Johansson, a longtime fan of the franchise, signed on for the starring role after Jennifer Lawrence and Amanda Seyfried both turned down the part.
• Jonathan Bailey was also involved in Alexander Desplat’s score, playing a clarinet solo in the scene where his character touches a dinosaur for the first time.
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