JURASSIC WORLD-FALLEN KINGDOM: BIG MISTAKE

 

You would think by now that crazed scientists meddling with Mother Nature would realize that thing are more than likely not going to turn out as they planned. In the very first film character Ian Malcolm warned them that they were messing with things best left untouched. But no one seems to listen.

As a matter of fact in JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM the film opens with Malcolm (again played by Jeff Goldblum) offering that same warning once more. At the end of the last film, JURASSIC WORLD, the concept of a theme park filled with dinosaurs once again crumbled with the dinosaurs attacking and people dying. Isla Nubar, the island where it took place, was left to the dinosaurs and those that survived left. Here we are a few years later with a volcano about to erupt on the island and activists are trying to save the dinosaurs.

Leading that cause is Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) who worked on the island and survived. Not wanting these creatures to return to extinction she pleads her case to anyone who will listen. That would include Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), a billionaire and ex-friend of the park’s original creator John Hammond. With the help of his right hand man Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) he plans on rescuing the dinosaurs at his expense. He does so to honor his friend and to please his granddaughter Maisie (Isabella Sermon).

They need Claire for two reasons. The first is her handprint for security reasons. The second is to recruit Owen Grady (Chris Pratt). It seems Blue, the velociraptor, has evaded them and they know he is the only one who can bring her in. He argues, relents and the next thing you know the two of them along with two other members of Claire’s group are on a plane headed for Isla Nubar.

When they arrive things aren’t quite what they expected. The team in place is not just scientists but mercenaries led by Ken Wheatley (Ted Levine). Trying to work together his men bypass Owen’s demand to back off when he finds Blue and they tranquilize the dinosaur and Owen as well, leaving him behind for the lava coming down the mountain. Claire and one of her group are left behind as well, only the doctor among them kept on hand to insure Blue survives.

It’s a double cross and the saving of the dinosaurs is not the intent of this group. Their safety is important for one reason only, their survival until they can make it back to the mainland at Lockwood’s mansion. Crosses and double crosses follow and soon the real reason for their rescue is learned. Fortunately Owen, Claire and her friends have survived, made it onboard with the dinosaurs and may be able to save them from the plans in store for them.

Like the films in the series before this one the main eye candy here is the dinosaurs. The ability of CGI has boomed since the first film released in 1993. Not only are the dinosaurs that amazed all of us when first seen on board, like the brontosaurus, the geneticists have once more created a new dinosaur that is more dangerous than the last one they created. Ever notice they only create killing dinosaurs and never a cute little dinosaur? The effects with the dinosaurs aren’t the only ones to witness either. The destruction of Isla Nubar via volcano, the dinosaurs that were left behind and the effects of the flowing lava also create some stunning and disturbing visuals.

Perhaps the only thing skimped on in this film is the lack of character development. Certainly after the last film we know the two leads but what about the rest? They’re given short shrift here and we get to know them in bits and pieces which are few and far between. Even Goldblum in his return to the franchise is only on hand for a brief moment at the beginning and in voice over towards the end. Lockwood is glossed over as well and clues about his granddaughter are nowhere to be seen.

But this is a summer blockbuster type film and the important things are the dinosaurs, explosions and action sequences. Trust me when I say this film has plenty of those. They more than compensate for the lack of character development. The freshness of the movie is beginning to wear thin but it still provides a solid piece of entertainment that many will enjoy. Will I watch it a second or third time? Yeah, I think I will. Maybe a marathon weekend. A theme party. The movie is a lot of fun and will fuel the imaginations and nightmares of children who watch and give parents a good bit of action. I highly recommend this one for watching this week and down the road as well.

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