Jurassic World-2015

Director Colin Trevorrow

Starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard

Scott’s Review #307

Reviewed December 23, 2015

Grade: C

I expected to like Jurassic World (2015) is a film I expected to like much more than I did.

Sure, it is a summer blockbuster, popcorn flick. Based on the success of earlier franchise efforts and, if memory serves, my enjoyment of the 1993 original, Jurassic Park, I expected a fun ride.

Unfortunately, I got a formulaic escapade with uninteresting characters and mediocre writing.

The premise is standard.

A behemoth amusement park exists in Central America, on Isla Nublar, where a dinosaur theme park has run without incident for ten years.

A genetically modified dinosaur, created because a magnificent new attraction is needed, breaks loose and runs rampant.

A silly love story develops between the two leads, Owen and Claire (Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard), while two young boys (Zach and Gray) are sent by their divorcing parents to stay with their Aunt, Claire, who works as the park’s Operations Manager.

Owen is the dinosaur trainer. Predictably, “bad guys” are greedy and want to advance science at the risk of human life.

The special effects are fine, albeit completely CGI-laden, which is to be expected because the main stars are dinosaurs after all.

I expected better writing, or at least a more creative attempt at something a bit edgy.

The story was completely redundant. Where was the character development? There was none. We know very little about any of the principal characters.

One might argue that an adventure film doesn’t require this, but it’s important. We know that Claire is a workaholic and has no time for her nephews- why? What makes her tick?

Here is a slight complaint. Why kill off only extremely minor characters or villains? I could see this (and the ending) a mile away. The whole film seems forced and sloppy.

Jurassic World is also filled with clichés. Owen and Claire initially dislike each other after one unsuccessful first date.

The film tries to push the love/hate, opposites attract element, and it feels contrived. How many times have we seen this in film history?

Also, Chris Pratt is perfect as the hunky, muscular “hero saves the day” type, and Dallas Bryce Howard running through the forest in a tight tank top is not unintentional.

This isn’t to say the film is bad.

It is a decent adventure film, and the special effects are cool. I did enjoy the homage to the original 1993 version as the boys stumble upon the original visitor station complete with the 1992 jeep from the original Jurassic Park film.

I thought this was a neat little nod to history, and I love that in a franchise film, but that is it for the positives.

Yes, this film was a blockbuster smash and made oodles of money. It, however, feels forced, clichéd, and quite formulaic.

I was hoping for much more and deeper, stronger material.