Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Directed by J.A. Bayona

Written by Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow

Starring:

Chris Pratt as Owen Grady

Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire Dearing

Rafe Spall as Eli Mills

Justice Smith as Franklin Webb

Daniella Pineda as Zia Rodriguez

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril

I must say that my excitement for this film was about as high as when I went in to see Jurassic World (2015) three years ago. I thought I would walk away from it just as amazed and satisfied, but I was wrong on this one. Here is just another chapter in the Jurassic Park saga that provides a few good thrills and a lot of decent CGI…but that’s really it (read more about my experience watching this film in 3-D here).

Again, the film involves another trip to Isla Nublar, the home of what would have been Jurassic Park and what is left of Jurassic World. This time, though, it was decided to bring the dinosaurs to mankind in order to prevent them from extinction by way of a volcano. If we learned from the events in Jurassic Park: The Lost World (1997), putting dinosaurs too close to humankind still won’t go very well.

When the story doesn’t offer looks at cool-looking dinosaurs, from the original concepts to the new hybrids, the human characters try to keep the story going, but some fall flat. The main characters are still enjoyable, though. We’ve still got Chris Pratt as Owen Grady, who is fun to watch. His chemistry with Bryce Dallas Howard still works very well.

A few new characters come into this chapter, such as the wimpy Justice Smith, who brings decent comic relief. Smith, who screams like a little girl (nothing against little girls) whenever he is about to become dino food, works well as an outcast compared to his peers. I liked the way the filmmakers brought him in because I was already getting tired of kids being brought into these dangerous events on that dinosaur-laden island. I found myself wanting more of Smith in the movie, because it lacked some comic relief.

The relationships and chemistry among the main characters and their allies work well. However, the subplot involving the antagonists drove me up the wall. As was evident in the trailers, the plan for extracting the dinosaurs from their original island home was a ruse to get rich. As I said before, who in their right mind believes that owning a dinosaur sounds safe? For them or for the general public? But maybe I’m getting tired of movies about advanced science being modified for personal gain.

Overall, I don’t recommend this movie. Though, I will reiterate the good points: the main characters aren’t boring, the visuals are convincing, and the thrills are still there. I also cannot forget newcomer Isabella Sermon. She is very likable and empathetic in her role as a girl trying to hide from both the bad guys and the dinos on the loose. She is the main subject in the subplot of dinosaurs roaming around a secluded estate built like a castle. Although, I found that subplot excessively long.

Despite the movie’s flaws, the thrills still exist, but are very sparse. However, the ending left me wondering about the inevitable sequel. It did leave me some hope of a sequel that differentiates itself from its predecessors. I just hope it will be told better than this one was.

2/4 stars