Jurassic World (2015) | Movie Review

‘Must go faster, must go faster!’

Everyone who has ever ventured into the cinematic masterstroke that is “Jurassic Park” remembers this line. Jeff Goldblum, as Dr. Ian Malcolm, took what was generic on the page and created something both reverent and iconic. The brilliance of Steven Spielberg’s original film was not simply in the glorious wonder and awe of showcasing dinosaurs for the first time on a grand scale; it was in crafting a film that moved at a perfectly paced clip, and left memorable moments forever scattered in its wake. It was the tsunami of adventure films.

Now, 22 years later, we return to the island of Isla Nublar (seemingly ignoring the 2^nd and 3^rd films) for a brand new-ish tale on how man should really just stop tinkering with dino test-tubes. I say ‘new-ish’ because if you peel back the layers, you will notice that “Jurassic World”…is pretty much just “Jurassic Park” reskinned for modern audiences.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: two kids are sent to the grandest of attractions, Jurassic World, to spend time with their park-running relative, this time Aunt Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard). As their story progresses, brothers Zack and Gray literally become hamsters-in-a-ball trapped amidst the ensuing dinosaur apocalypse. Of course, before they become plot devices, we are also introduced to Sam Neill’s replacement, Owen (Chris Pratt), who seems to be the only person on the entire island who understands that dinosaurs are animals and not simply ‘assets’. Will those silly bean-counters ever learn?

After some steely-eyed lecturing from Owen, most of it unnecessary if Claire would just sit down and watch the first film, the biggest and baddest dinosaur on the island escapes. The Indominus Rex, a new breed of dinosaur created by scientists (led by the sole returning character of Dr. Wu, played by B.D. Wong) splicing together different DNA strands in an effort to jazz-up park attendance, is also far more intelligent than previous specimens and even packs a camouflaging component. That little tic turns out to be a pretty handy trait if you want to kill and maim everything in the park. Don’t forget, we also have velociraptors on the island. Because no “Jurassic Park” would be complete without the one animal you can count on…to absolutely not count on.

Yes, “Jurassic World” is essentially retelling the same tale. Yet, it is also slyly commenting on today’s audience demand for sequels to go BIGGER and BADDER! Not quite as in your face as last year’s “22 Jump Street”, but this film wants the audience to know that ‘Ok, we get it. You need something more deadly, more dangerous’. As CEO Mr. Masrani (Irrfan Khan) and Claire herself explains, patrons want and need more. More danger, more excitement, we must…go…faster!

For that, the film delivers in spades. No longer able to count on our nostalgia and awe to carry us through the film, director Colin Trevorrow and his team of writers throw several new variations of species to force us to the edge of our seats. You want a Jurassic Shamu? You got it. How about some adorable triceratops babies that our spoiled brats can ride? Done. Love velociraptors but sick of rooting against them? No problem, we have Owen the dino-whisperer, and he’ll corral those vicious killing-machines into seemingly trainable dolphins. Seemingly being the operative word.

These films always need a human antagonist, and this time that role is offered up by Vincent D’Onofrio as Hoskins. He sees a military use for Owen’s training of the raptors, and we see a ridiculous plot device that paints a giant target on Hoskins’ back for the duration of the film. Honestly, just change his character’s name to ‘Bait’.

As for the leads, Howard and Pratt make a formidable team as they finagle a solution to their Indominus Rex problem. Claire is a bit too stereotypical and clichéd (really, she needs to strip down in order to show her strength?), but Howard manages to elevate the character into one we can relate to as the film trots on. Pratt handles his end and demonstrates that he is no one-trick pony (he also proves he does not have enough swash in his buckle to handle Indiana Jones as some have proclaimed. He simply does not have that dark edge that the fedora requires), although Owen could have used some fleshing out of his own to establish the character as little more than a Dr. Grant replacement. These two function as our eyes and ears through the turmoil, and both actors elevate their characters to more than mere caricatures.

Look, story and character-wise – there is not much new here. This is “Jurassic Park” for the 21^st Century. So much that if you closed your eyes and simply listened to that beautiful theme and the resulting chaos, you might mistake this film for the first.  It also is a hell of a lot of fun.

Trevorrow wastes no time jumping into the thick of the action and thrusting the film toward its rollicking conclusion. The mosasaur (Jurassic Shamu, remember?) is a breathtaking addition to the series’ dinosaur collection, and Indominus Rex, for all of his destruction and carnage, is worth the price of admission alone. If you are looking for a rambunctiously exciting trip to the theater with the family in tow, “Jurassic World” is the theme park ride of the summer.

Like the original film, though, it just needed a bit more Goldblum.

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider