JURASSIC WORLD Review

JURASSIC WORLD review by Josef Rodriguez.

It’s no secret that Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic monster flick, Jurassic Park, inspired a generation of archaeologists and cinephiles alike. However, it’s also no secret that the film’s two follow-ups were less than impressive, making this latest installment, entitled Jurassic World, all the more crucial for continuing fans of the series. Directed by Safety Not Guaranteed helmer Colin Trevorrow, this third sequel disregards the two previous installments and picks up twenty years after the catastrophes at the original Jurassic Park. Under new management, the park has now reopened as Jurassic World, a family-friendly mecca of prehistoric thrills.

With state of the art technology and new attractions hitting the grounds every year, Jurassic World is, in terms of pure business, everything that its predecessor was not. Unfortunately, a group of gung-ho scientists have gotten their hands on all the right DNA to create a mega-alpha of sorts, the Indominus rex. A genetically synthetic hybrid of multiple DNA strands from all types of animals, the Indominus rex is both the ultimate predator as well as the park’s latest attraction. Under the close but somewhat misinformed eye of Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), the park’s operations manager, the Indominus rex is all set to hit the stage when former Navy SEAL-cum-raptor trainer Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) informs Claire and her staff that the Indominus will revolt. It’s not a matter of if, but when.

And, of course, she does. Responsible for taking care of her two nephews -Zach (Nick Robinson) and Gray (Ty Simpkins)- Claire and Owen set out to save the boys from inside the park while a trigger-happy security operations manager named Vic Hoskins (Vincent D’Onofrio) wades through the chaos to try and convince Grady that his trained raptors are ready for a field test, one that would lead to further implementation in the US military. Initially resistant, Grady is left with fewer options as more lives are put in danger every passing moment.

Jurassic World’s admittedly silly trailers would have you believe that Trevorrow’s sequel is yet another shameless Hollywood cash-grab, one that exists for no other purpose than to empty the wallets of the nostalgic gen-X’ers who saw Spielberg’s original film in theaters so many years ago. But Trevorrow has proven himself to be quite an intelligent filmmaker, as evidenced by his debut feature, a Spielbergian throwback to the classic fantasy/sci-fi comedies of the 1980s. Jurassic World, unsurprisingly, functions on a similar wavelength, offering audiences all the dinosaur fights they could possibly desire while also maintaining a light, frothy tone that wouldn’t feel out of place in an Indiana Jones movie (all the better seeing that Pratt is poised to don the whip and fedora in the franchise’s next installment).

It’s not uncommon for a director to be robbed of his or her distinct voice when given a $150 million dollar budget (see: Gareth Evans’ Godzilla), but Trevorrow plays to his strengths while also fulfilling the requirements in regards to everything that a 21st century Jurassic Park movie should be. It’s fun, it’s campy, and it’s one hell of a thrill ride that, for two straight hours, refuses to give the audience a moment to catch their breath. Making reference to previous installments without necessarily derailing the story, Trevorrow smartly focuses on character development and a masterful handle on tone and pacing as he builds the dread over the course of the film’s first half. By the time the Indominus unleashes her first assault, the director pulls no punches, giving viewers a theatergoing experience they aren’t likely to forget.

Visually, the film is far more stunning than it has any right to be. With some of the most flawless CGI ever committed to screen, Trevorrow isn’t content with that, as his use of practical effects is as impressive as it is surprisingly moving. One particular scene, where Grady calms a dying Brachiosaurus as it takes its final breaths, is one of the most effective emotional beats I’ve seen in a blockbuster since I don’t know when. And it works simply because Trevorrow and his team go above and beyond, crafting an animatronic head that I could have sworn was an actual resurrected dinosaur.

Falling somewhere in the category of Aliens meets Frankenstein with a dash of Ishiro Honda’s original 1954 film Gojira, Jurassic World is everything it should be and more. Fans of the original need not worry, there’s plenty to love here. However, the younger generation -those who might not be so familiar with Spielberg’s film- will also find themselves thrilled and shocked in all the right ways. Whatever minor speed bumps it may hit in the scripting department, it can be mostly forgiven, if only because Jurassic World is truly a breathtaking experience.

The best compliment I could give the film is this: while watching, I completely forgot my responsibilities as a functioning member of society. Instead, I was that five year old kid again, sitting down at Grandma’s house to watch Jurassic Park on VHS. I laughed when I was supposed to, screamed when I least expected it, and clutched my screening partner’s hand a little harder than I probably should have. Everything about this film just works. Besides, who doesn’t love watching two 50-foot dinosaurs duke it out on screen for fifteen minutes?

JURASSIC WORLD is now playing nationwide.