Review: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Though injected with creative flourishes by Spanish horror director J.A. Bayona, the latest instalment of the Jurassic franchise already feels tired from its opening moments. At this point, there's not really much that one can do to refresh a tale that hinged on its very novelty (though it would be intriguing to see what someone like Guillermo del Toro or Alfonso Cuarón could do with the material), though certainly the 2015 reboot was an entertaining thrill ride that reinvigorated audience interest and brought much coin to already abundant coffers.
Set three years after the events of Jurassic World, Fallen Kingdom finds the dinosaurs facing another threat of extinction, this time in the form of a volcano about to erupt on their island of Isla Nublar. Their situation sparks national debate: do these dinosaurs deserve the same protection as other endangered species or should they be left to die? Surprisingly, Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum, a source of unending delight who really should have had more screen time) argues for the latter.The government committee agrees with him, much to the disappointment of Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), last seen memorably battling the rampaging dinosaurs in heels and now heading up a dinosaur protection agency.
One can imagine her relief when help arrives from Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), John Hammond's former business partner, who wants her to aid in transporting the dinosaurs to a private sanctuary where they can live in peace far away from the tourists. The rescue mission naturally requires the involvement of Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) since it concerns Blue, the raptor he trained from birth. Predictably, there are villains afoot, including Lockwood's right hand man Eli Mills (Rafe Spall), who has his own devious agenda, and Ken Wheatley (Ted Levine), a mercenary prone to collecting dino teeth as souvenirs. A lot of running, screaming, and too-close-for-comfort encounters ensue.
Amidst all this, Bayona stages some satisfying set pieces, including the chaotic escape from Isla Nublar, but genuinely highlights his capabilities in the second half of the film, which is infused with more gothic elements as the rescued dinosaurs are let loose in the cramped spaces of the Lockwood estate. He and regular cinematographer Oscar Faura craft some memorable images - a lone dinosaur as it's engulfed in smoke, another as it creeps into a young girl's bedroom - that pays homage to Bayona's obvious love and knowledge of the monster movie. Of the humans, Justice Smith stands out with his hilarious hysterics as a tech nerd brought along by Claire. Pratt and Howard, as with most of the film itself, feel like they're merely going through the motions.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Directed by: J.A. Bayona
Written by: Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly; based on characters created by Michael Crichton
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeff Goldblum, Ted Levine, Toby Jones, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith, B.D. Wong, James Cromwell, Geraldine Chaplin, Isabella Sermon
