Rating: 3.5/5
Synopsis:
After a short lived “conclusion” to the “Jurassic” franchise, dinosaurs are back on the big screen yet again! Five years after the events of “Jurassic World: Dominion”, dinosaurs are having problems surviving. Outside of an isolated region that mirrors their natural habitat, the planet has become inhospitable to the creatures. But a team seeks out the DNA of three of the rarest dinosaurs, hoping it will be the missing piece to a pharmaceutical drug intended to cure cancer. But once the team arrives on the island, they find that some of the dinosaurs are mutated experiments from the original park…more aggressive and highly dangerous in comparison. The team must risk their lives to make a discovery of the century…or die trying.
Positives:
At this point in the “Jurassic” franchise, fans have come to expect big dinosaur action with a serviceable plot. “Rebith” isnt exactly a reinvention of this premise but it certainly delivers what fans come to see. We get big scope dinosaur action, the greedy corporation angle, and a group of individuals who stumble upon a situation that’s out of their control. Director Gareth Edwards brings his blueprint to the franchise, returning to the style of the original films rather than the previous three movies. The story ditches the convoluted nature of “Fallen Kingdom” and Dominion”, opting for a straightforward story instead. This is a good move because the franchise was headed in a disastrous direction, where human cloning and black market dinosaur sales were becoming the focus. I much prefer when a group of humans are contemplating the magnitude of what they are dealing with. The scope and danger of developing dinosaurs becomes a moral issue. The plot takes a simple premise, puts a group of characters in a place where they don’t belong, and all hell breaks loose. For better or worse, I enjoyed the return to form.
The film also features some impressive special effects. Dinosaurs appear intimidating again, whether it’s being targeted by a Mosasaurus at sea or being chased by a T-Rex in the jungle. But the film also highlights the grand scale of these creatures. Most of the action scenes convey the sheer magnitude of the dinosaurs, putting the team in danger on many occasions. But it also gives the characters an opportunity to recognize the gracefulness of these creatures. It gives us that sense of awe and wonder that was dearly missed. A few impressive set pieces are sure to get the audience’s attention. The three leads all seem to be excited to be a part of this franchise. Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali all turn in enthusiastic performances. Although the script falls short of their abilities, they make it work. The film also includes some horror elements that were prominent in the original film. While it doesn’t go as far as I’d hoped, it paves the way to bring back the old school tension. Hopefully we get more of that moving forward!
Negatives:
While “Rebirth” is a step in the right direction, it still contains the issues that have plagued this franchise since the original. The characters take a back seat in this one, where developing their opinion on dinosaurs and the complex nature of their existence isn’t as prominent as it should be. But there is a family introduced in the middle of the film that feels completely unnecessary. They seem shoehorned into the plot to be included in a few of the bigger action set pieces, notably the Mosasaurus boat chase and the T-Rex river scene. Their presence adds almost nothing to the story, but the daughter and her moron boyfriend made them insufferable. The filmmakers try to make them comic relief after a tense sequence which rarely lands properly. But the single greatest issue with “Rebirth” is the amount of “yeah right” moments that happen throughout the story. We are asked to suspend our disbelief so many times that it began to grate on me. Yes…I understand that this is a fictional dinosaur movie…but these issues could have been cleaned up easily. They are meant to elicit suspense and propel events forward. I don’t think having characters behave in such ridiculous ways or asking audiences to believe that massive dinosaurs transport from one place to another (very quickly) is a good way to win back audience appeal. These issues were very fixable and I hope the next film addresses them appropriately.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, “Jurassic World: Rebirth” plays it pretty safe. It delivers what fans of the franchise want. While it doesn’t give us the thoughtful scientific moral dilemmas or the rich characters of the original film, the spectacle swoops in and saves the day. The set pieces and tense battles with the dinosaurs are very exciting. We give the dinosaurs the care they need, making them the highlight of the story. Gone is the complex nature of the previous films, allowing the franchise to return to basics. I still believe there is potential to make another great “Jurassic” film, even if this isn’t the one. Although “Rebirth” has some missteps, it gives fans enough dinosaur action and notable callbacks to make it a worthwhile trip to the cinema. Check it out in Dolby to feel the dinosaur roars shaking the seats!
