Written by Wayne Townsend
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is an enjoyable movie. It is the fifth film in the Jurassic saga. It doesn’t add anything new to the series and follows a generic Hollywood formula for adventure movies. The good guys are very good, the bad guys are very bad, and the narrow escapes are hair-raising which send just the right amount of adrenaline coursing through your veins. The by the numbers structure of the action in this film is akin to the thrills you get at an amusement park. Discussing the plot any further would serve as a spoiler. Chris Pratt, of The Office fame, is excellent as he comfortably reprises his role of Owen Grady. He moves heroically from scene to scene with an indomitable spirit reminiscent of Indiana Jones. His future as a charismatic leading man is cemented by his performance. Also returning is Bryce Dallas Howard and she is equal to the task as they comprise a formidable duo of protagonist undaunted in the quest to protect their one-time charge Blue, the intelligent raptor from Jurassic World. Her character, Claire Dearing is aptly named as Howard is the moral compass of the film. The twosome battles the villains who are trying to gain control of the dinosaurs for financial exploitation. Making a cameo is Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcom, the character he played in the first two Jurassic films. The movie is darker than its predecessor as the darkest elements of human greed bubble to the surface in more than one baddie. Yes, this film has multiple villains and I found I was actively debating with myself and consciously rooting for their demise. Steven Spielberg served as executive producer and his fingerprints are all over this film. Spielberg helped develop the core of the story but left the heavy lifting to writers Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow. Spanish director J.A. Bayona took the helm from Trevorrow, director of its previous film, Jurassic World (2015) making his first blockbuster. Bayona keeps most of the more violent aspects of the movie off camera which makes this film more family friendly. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom isn’t new, or inventive. What it is, is a 2 hour and 10-minute escape from the heat, full of familiar characters with a backdrop of suspense and with an ample amount of thrills. I liked it, a lot. 3 ½ out of 5