It’s hard to believe it has been a quarter century since the original “Jurassic Park” was released in theaters. At the time, the visual effects were truly groundbreaking, the concept incredibly novel (thanks Michael Crichton), and the overall impact that of “Jaws” (the JP movies are essentially the fruition of the “Land Shark” character from “Saturday Night Live” lore).
As was the case with the “Jaws” franchise in the late 70s and early 80s, “Jurassic Park” is a property that deals largely with The Law of Diminishing Returns. The box office numbers continue to be robust, but it is often hard to recapture past glories with high concept films.
Regardless, I dutifully see the “Jurassic” movies the same way I did the “Jaws” franchise.
Why, you might ask?
Because they are silly rollercoaster rides that entertain (despite ample amounts of ridiculousness).
The latest entry in our dino-powered saga is “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” — a follow-up to 2015’s “Jurassic World.”
One thing no one has ever convincingly explained is why it seemed like a good idea to develop another dinosaur-laden theme park after the events documented in the first three films.
But it doesn’t really matter so much.
You have to check your brain at the door when you see a “Jurassic” movie. I enjoyed “Jurassic World” in 2015.
I know I’m going against critical opinion here, but I think I enjoyed “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” even more than its predecessor.
“Fallen Kingdom” isn’t groundbreaking. Nor is it particularly original.
Be that as it may, director J.A. Bayona keeps things moving. The likable cast does a good job with the material given.
“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” takes place three years after the incident in “Jurassic World.” Isla Nubar — home to the abandoned dinosaur theme park — is also home to a now-active volcano.
The movie begins with a group of mercenaries who are trying to collect DNA from the remains of the Indominous Rex — located at the bottom of the lagoon on Isla Nubar. The team members are attacked by two dinos — escaping by the skin of their teeth — but the lagoon gate is left open.
Meanwhile, back in the United States, the federal government is trying to decide whether or not to rescue the dinosaurs that remain on Isla Nubar — before the volcano erupts. Based on the testimony of Dr. Ian Malcolm (an underutilized Jeff Goldblum), the U.S. Senate decides to stay out of things.
Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) has started a dinosaur protection non-profit to try and save the critters from destruction. She is eventually approached by private interests (funded by Benjamin Lockwood, played by James Cromwell) who want to rescue the dinosaurs and place them in an island sanctuary (no one explains whether or not that will include flying dinos like Pterodactyls, but I digress...).
Claire agrees to return to Isla Nubar (she was previously in charge of ops at Jurassic World). Of all the dinos trapped on the island, they are most concerned about locating Blue — our favorite trained velociraptor.
So Claire heads to out to recruit Jurassic World’s former “velociraptor whisperer” Owen Grady (Chris Pratt).
From here, the newly assembled team heads out to Isla Nubar for a rendezvous with a group of game hunters led by a man named Wheatley (Ted Levine, who played Captain Leland Stottlemeyer on one of my favorite detective series "Monk").
As is the case with the “Jurassic” movies, nothing is at all cut and dry. Claire and Owen are double-crossed and soon learn the dinosaurs are being rescued in order to auction them off as “weapons.”
If you don’t spend too much time analyzing things, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” is a fun ride.
There is a deadly new creature for our heroes to contend with — a genetic dino hybrid called an “Indoraptor.”
We are even treated to a surprisingly entertaining dinosaur blood transfusion.
Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are once again affable in their roles — with Pratt adding bullet points to his “Indiana Jones reboot” resume (seriously, I’d like to see him in that role).
(One could argue that this movie should be called “Raiders of the Lost Dinosaur”).
With audiences becoming increasingly fickle as it regards blockbuster-type movies, it is hard to know where the reception for “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” will fall.
I liked it. I’d watch it again.
I’m also looking forward to the movie titled “The Meg” which comes out later this summer (it is about the hunt for a 70-foot shark thought to be extinct — based on the pulpy 1997 thriller by Steve Alten).
Be sure to stay through the end credits of “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” to see an “easter egg” at the end...
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