You had me at improved footwear and lessons better learned twice. (Or 5 times.)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom improves the franchise and takes the story into a quite intriguing direction. What better way to learn a lesson than to learn it twice? If only more people listened to Dr. Malcolm because he said it, and then he said it again, and again. “Genetic power is the most awesome force the planet’s ever seen, but you wield it like a kid that’s found his dad’s gun.”
J.A. Bayona in the director’s chair gives us a movie that pulls off charmingly trashy moments like we know them from movies of the 90s – which I was missing in the first Jurassic World. Cheesiness is part of it but not in the centre. Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen (Chris Pratt) team up again to save some dinosaurs and their chemistry has improved vastly. No cringey or awkward moments, only genuine action hero vibes.
Jurassic World is trashed and the remaining dinosaurs are facing extinction once more through an active volcano threatening to destroy Isla Nubla any second. Animal rights activists try to stop this event and find a sponsor in Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell). The plan is to catch as many triceratopses, brontosauruses and pterodactyles as possible and then get the hell out. What could possibly go wrong?
We know the concept of man playing god all to well and this movie really manages to show the consequences of abusing power. Perverse genetic experiments and the exposure of the most corrupt faces in society are real, relatable, and gut-wrenching issues. Combine this with legitimate horror-esque monster movie elements and a ton of action and excitement is guaranteed. Also, there is no lack of iconic scenes and easter eggs that’ll throw you back to your childhood.
After the sensation of Claire’s race through the jungle on high heels, Fallen Kingdom gives us extra shots of solid footwear to prove she is ready this time. Chris Pratt oozes old-school hero style and, at times, feels Indiana Jones-y or Nathan Drake-ish. Toby Jones (Gunnar Eversol) just plays villains right. There is nothing more to say. Except maybe, Jeff Goldblum?
Scapegrace Heroine 