JURASSIC WORLD is a thrilling homage to the original films with a refreshing original flair.
We’ll be the first to admit that when we heard about JURASSIC WORLD, a continuation of the JURASSIC PARK films, we were skeptical. The original movie was an unprecedented mixture of animatronics and special effects paired with superb acting and a stellar storyline. But it’s sequels marked a steady decline for the series and by the time JURASSIC PARK III hit, it seemed like time to like sleeping dinosaurs lie.
Now we’re eating our words and we’re thankful for it! This addition to the franchise is a heady mixture of clever, scary, and action-packed!
JURASSIC WORLD takes place 22 years after the tragic events of JURASSIC PARK closed the original site. In its wake, InGen has developed a fully functional theme park complete with over 20 species of dinousaurs, interactive experiences, a water-based show, food stands, rides, and more on the remote island. The JURASSIC WORLD theme park is a hit, but seeing dinosaurs is old hat to some visitors and the island requires new, more interesting attractions to keep the crowds coming. That’s where science steps in. Reviving the dinosaurs from extinction wasn’t enough, so Dr. Henry Wu (JURASSIC PARK original BD Wong) has created his own from a classified DNA cocktail.
Operations manager Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) hopes Indominus Rex, as the new species is called, will be the largest, most terrifying, and most fascinating attraction the park has ever seen. Still, the animal is a predator, so a behavioral specialist working with the Raptors, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), is sent in to access her well-being. Of course, Indominus Rex is unpredictable and far more intelligent than anyone could expect, so it’s not long before all hell breaks loose in the family-friendly park.
The timing is especially bad for Claire, whose two nephews Zack (Nick Robinson) and Gray (Ty Simpkins) are visiting the park alone while their parents settle their divorce back home.
Essentially, it comes down to this: If you enjoy the JURASSIC PARK films, you’ll enjoy this one. If you’re like us, you’ll enjoy it more than the second and third films. It’s more than hulking dinosaurs tromping all over people that try to outwit them. JURASSIC WORLD is a fully-developed story with well-rounded characters and swift pacing.
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Nick Robinson, and Ty Simpkins pull off some admirable acting, especially considering how much of that time they were probably just reacting to tennis balls and guys covered in green screen suits. However, there were a few times where we weren’t quite sure where Pratt’s accent was going. Sometimes his character had a southern drawl, other times it faded. Still, they all had a great understanding of their characters and it showed in the performance.
The supporting cast was also a joy to watch, complete with unique personalities and quirks. We especially loved Vincent D’Onofrio as sleazy InGen rep Hoskins and NEW GIRL’s Jake Johnson as a dorky, pun-doling control room tech named Lowery.
While we love the superhero genre, this is a refreshing mini-break from all those superhero films. It offers up the same action and adventure, then throws in some serious suspense and thrills. In fact, we were so startled that we probably wouldn’t recommend it for any kids younger than 10-years-old. There’s some blood, plenty of jump scares, and oh yeah… KILLER DINOSAURS SLAUGHTERING PEOPLE.
The film also did a great job paying homage to the original film, acknowledging it with some quirky dialogue and some as one poignant sequence that we don’t want to spoil.
If you’re up for another prehistoric-meets-modern thrill ride, JURASSIC WORLD is the perfect way to kick off the summer!
