Leaving the cinema after this latest entry into the ‘Jurassic’ franchise, this reviewer wondered – is it time to let go?
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ gives us a star-studded trio, beautiful sweeping landscapes and some pretty high stakes. . . But from a critical perspective, unfortunately, the film gets lost in its mission of figuring out where to go and what to be.
We all watched as the world built so strongly by the first ‘Jurassic World’ film in 2015 was burnt to the ground by its third iteration seven years later. Which begs the initial question – why are we doing this again – but when you learn that THIS ‘Jurassic World’ is a beast of its own with an entirely new cast, you realise it’s an attempt (the operative word) at a course correction.
The good news is, the leading performances throughout the film are excellent, and probably save the film.
Scarlett Johannson is fantastic as covert operation expert Zora Bennett – an unapologetic, fierce figure who commands attention each time she’s on screen. She’s effortlessly bad-ass and equally comedic and layered. A total home-run for Johannson and a notch on her belt.
Jonathan Bailey’s Dr Henry Loomis is instantly loveable. His nerdy passion for dinosaurs paired with his inexperience in the field of exploration and action makes for a wonderful character. . . He’s the one with the most emotional connection to these vast creatures, and one moment in particular seems to stop time to give this some beautiful breathing space.
Mahershela Ali’s Duncan Kincaid is brimming with authority and determination, but also showcases a softer side. A scene between Duncan and Zora early in the film – while a little misplaced – is a masterclass in emotional acting from Ali and Johannson. Where was more of this?
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ goes for the classic double plot-line, as viewers follow the group of professionals as well as the in-over-their-heads family (Audrina Miranda, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise and David Iacono), who want no part in where they’ve ended up. This feels thrilling at first but doesn’t ever really build to an exciting enough conclusion.
After a classic ‘Jurassic’ cold open, with a cleverly (and terrifyingly) set-up premise, we’re thrown into present day and not given enough time to process what’s going on. Unfortunately, this sets the pace and vibe for the rest of ‘Rebirth’ – while the filmmakers attempt to introduce us to these (very well-acted) characters, there’s not enough time given for us to truly get to know them, on a level where we want to root for them.
The main issue this reviewer has with ‘Rebirth’ – which may be controversial and obvious – is its firm grip on ‘Jurassic Park’. Director Gareth Edwards seems much more concerned with fan service, and paying homage to the original franchise, than with presenting a fully-formed and intricate new entry into it. Sure, respecting origins is important, especially with an IP like ‘Jurassic Park’. . . But something that made the first ‘Jurassic World’ so fantastic was its fearlessness in giving viewers something fresh and exciting. . . Something that felt like a true ‘rebirth’.
The premise here is exciting enough – and the implications (potential breakthroughs in medical science) are immense. . . But ‘Rebirth’ is set in a world where live dinosaurs are kept in captivity and barely anyone is as thrilled by them as they once were. This inadvertently gives the film the mission of reminding its audience of the wonder of the creatures – a huge undertaking, especially considering a majority of the dinos in ‘Rebirth’ are mutated ‘new’ breeds. . . Which, in this reviewer’s opinion, aren’t nearly as thrilling to see as the classic Brachiosaurus or the T-rex.
Luckily, the T-rex most definitely gets its moment here – in perhaps the most exciting and nail-biting scene of the film. . . No spoilers.
The new breeds here, like the massive D-rex, feel more like other-worldly aliens than dinosaurs. . . Moving the franchise into the fantasy genre space. There are elements of horror, however, which are pretty effective. Suspenseful strings, slow turns, big reveals, jump scares. They all play their part in filling up the film, but the magic of seeing those OG dinos is, for the most part, gone.
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ cripples under its predecessors in more ways than one. The eventual failure of previous ‘World’ entries tinge this new venture with an air of apprehension, while the weight of the original trilogy’s success seems to hold ‘Rebirth’ back from truly refreshing the franchise.
That said, if you’re a dino lover and satisfied with a good popcorn movie which ticks the boxes of stunning scenery, fantastic acting and a decent enough story, you won’t be disheartened with this experience.
★★★☆☆
