Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Review - The Dinosaur Bellows!

When I heard that the first instalment (of what could be a potential franchise) of a sequel series to Steven Spielberg’s much loved Jurassic Park was being made, I was nervous. In Hollywood especially, sequels, ripoffs and remakes just don’t have a good rep. So I was pleasantly surprised by Jurassic World. It mixed wit, humour and some scary-ass dinosaurs to create a gargantuan marvel. However, its sequel, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom doesn’t give you the same thrill, mainly because it lacks a shock factor of how good a sequel can get.

You keep expecting more and more throughout the film’s 2 hour 10 minute runtime, but director JA Bayona is content staying within constraints of the entire franchise. What follows is a predictable, implausible but gripping thrill-ride. The sequel follows Owen (a fantastic Chris Pratt) who seems to have given up his passion for dinosaurs. When a volcano threatening to wipe out this beloved species and possibly put this franchise to rest, our hero swings into action along with Claire (played by Bryce Dallas Howard).

This is the basic plot of the film. Interestingly enough, if Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom followed only this structure, I would have been content. But there are implausible plot twists thrown into the mix that threaten to unsnarl the webs holding the story together. These twists range anywhere on the spectrum from betrayal to murder with a pillow. It’s all too cliched and never really takes you on the joyride you were expecting. In this instalment, the film’s main proceedings take place not within the park itself, but within this sprawling mansion with gorgeous old Victorian windows.

While the film tends to stay between Owen and Claire, there are secondary characters - Rafe Spall as the main antagonist, Eli Mills, Justice Smith as a nerdy technician who comes into his own and Daniella Pineda, the group’s paleoveterinarian. The latter two provide welcome laughs in a film that is inherently very melodramatic. Especially in a franchise like this, where the drama constantly is at a crescendo, it is a welcome relief when Smith and Pineda crack some jokes. But, it is Eli Mills’ problematic character that does undo the film entirely.

While Rafe Spall is a commendable actor, Mills is such a carelessly written character that the concept of him is unbelievable. The main testament to the fact that the character is written terribly is a scene in which he smothers somebody with a pillow. It’s a platitude and doesn’t offer anything new. Chris Pratt springs into action a little late in the film, but with his marvellous acting talent, he saves much of the proceedings.

Owen is a very interesting character. There are shades of sadness behind his snark, wit and charm. Pratt is pitch perfect and doesn’t let a note slip. In my opinion, without him, both the Jurassic Worlds would have been infinitely poorer creations. However, Bryce Dallas Howard’s character Claire is problematic. It’s not that Howard isn’t a good actor, but right after Owen does spring into action, Claire has very little to do except make frazzled faces and run right behind him. When she serves no purpose, she starts to make the screen and the script seem a little too heavy.

In fact, my least favourite subplot is the rekindling romance that brews between the two of them. It’s lame, it’s abrupt and it really only shows up in spurts. But I have as many criticisms about the film as I do praise. The film is about dinosaurs, so of course, it’s visually stunning. The CGI is unlike any other and transforms the dinosaurs into life-like beings. The last stretch of the film, which includes an auction and an explosion is a sight for sore eyes. It’s phenomenal to witness and is top notch.

Also, the dark tones that the film explores are its main selling point. I also have to point out, that this film is much scarier, nail-biting and suspenseful than its prequel. It is laden with scenes of humans barely escaping being eaten alive by the creatures and it doesn’t shy away from showing you the creatures’ ravenous appetites. So, lower your expectations. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is not perfect cinema. But when it does work, it soars high and doesn’t really come back down.

I suggest you watch it for its inherently darker tones, its sumptuous visuals and Chris Pratt’s acting. I also have to make a special mention of Isabella Sermon as the grand-daughter of Sir Benjamin Lockwood. I’m going with 3 stars for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. This kingdom might just have re-emerged.