It's been twenty one years, with one classic and two let downs. Thankfully we're getting back on the right track.
Yes, as all the posters and promotional material may have informed you, the park is indeed open. We cut back into a world where we're told that at least in the films timeline, it's been open a while and dinosaurs are starting to lose their attraction. What bizzaro world do these people live in? After the passing of John Hammond (the late Richard Attenborough) the park has passed onto his colleague, Simon Masrani (Khan) an eccentric billionaire who see's the park as an experience and more than just zeroes on a payslip.
The main plot of the film basically follows the formula we're used to, fun in the park, dinosaur gets loose, mayhem. As mentioned earlier, this is a world where dinosaurs roaming around isn't the crowd puller it used to be so by the handy work of the only returning character from previous films, Dr Wu (Wong) and Masrani's funding a hybrid is created. A blend of many things I won't spoil, the Indominus Rex is basically a giant white Tyrannosaurus with longer arms. It's scarier than it sounds.
Leading the human effort this time around is all around perfect human being Chris Pratt, who plays an ex-marine turned velociraptor trainer named Owen, he's virtually invincible and the writers love him, much apposed to Dallas Howard's character, Claire. Claire Dearing is the parks operation manager and a bit of a stick in the mud, she's by the book and rarely see's the bigger picture which contrasts to Owen's character yada-yada.
You have seen this dynamic before.
As much as I enjoyed the movie this is my biggest gripe, the notion of mutant dinosaurs is also more plausible to me than a woman running through a jungle wearing high heels without any setback. Claire's nephews are visiting the park because of a subplot involving their mother not happy with the fact her sister has put off seeing her nephews for seven years, it doesn't really matter but luckily the children aren't too annoying. Taking over the role of Tim and Lex we see Zach and Grey bad decision themselves from one tense action beat to the next, Grey himself reacting as any human would at the notion of seeing giant lizard monsters and Zach staring at teenage girls and being apathetic because teenagers.
The film is a love letter to the fans who grew up with these movies and provides countless wide eyed spectacles and some genuinely tense moments that will terrify the younger viewers who made their parents see it with them. The people hiding while the snout is only a meter away moment is overplayed a bit too much however. The tense raptor and motorcycle chase is one of the films highlights and your nostalgia will ease you past all the plot holes and mildly dumb moments.
Did anyone else near the end get that Anchorman vibe near the end? Baxter talking to the bear? I laughed at what I think was meant to be a powerful moment. Ah well.
I don't really need to recommend this, you're bound to see it.
It's Chris Pratt and dinosaurs. Nuf Sed.
