Review: Nothing new to see, but ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ has its thrills

In the realm of sequels, series and franchises, another movie in the “Jurassic” universe was entirely unnecessary.

That, however, doesn’t mean “Jurassic World: Dominion” isn’t breezy, thoroughly entertaining, escapist fare. It is.

Writer-director Colin Trevorrow takes every tool in the shed created from Michael Crichton’s original bestselling novel, the initial and subsequent films and uses them to his advantage.

It would have been fitting for the “Jurassic” series to end after the last outing with dinosaurs co-existing with humans. Some would even say they could have ended after Steven Spielberg’s adaptation. But, no, this is Hollywood. There’s money to be made and messages to drive home.

And Trevorrow does so by literally unleashing a plague of locusts, making it impossible to not believe that a plague of biblical proportions isn’t upon the Earth. The difference in these locusts: they are of a gargantuan variety with a voracious appetite and their very existence threatens the global food chain. Think someone is tinkering with dino DNA?

‘Jurassic Park’ gang reunites

Enter Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), who has changed fields and is working with bugs to some degree. She’s called to a West Texas farm to investigate the rat-sized creatures. She has her suspicions about what’s going on, which are only enhanced courtesy of Dr. Ian Malcolm (the ever-captivating, smarmy Jeff Goldblum), who is working for the corporation, Bio-Syn that’s responsible for the creatures. He offers Ellie an invite to tour the facility.

Ellie seeks help from old colleague and lover, Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and, of course, the two jet off to Europe to verify Malcolm’s suspicions.

There’s no real surprise in learning Bio-Syn isn’t the benevolent corporation its leader Dodgson (Campbell Scott) pretends it to be. We come to learn the depth of the company's depravity as its paid poachers continue to stalk Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) Owen (Chris Pratt) and their adopted daughter, Maisie (Isabella Sermon), and ultimately kidnap her. Of course, that sends the frantic parents in search of her, ultimately leading them to Bio-Syn.

Ultimately, there’s nothing really new to be had in “Dominion.” The message has remained the same through six installments: Humanity should not play with the forces of nature. As the series progressed, the films have addressed climate change also.

Colin Trevorrow blends ‘Jurassic’ worlds

Any enjoyment will come in whether audiences appreciate Trevorrow’s execution in bringing both versions of the franchise together. To be honest, he does so surprisingly well, given the number of primary cast members.

Goldblum, Neill and Dern receive plenty to chew on and that’s the significant difference in this installment. Although each has appeared in the sequels in some form, this is the first time they’ve all been back together and given substantive things to do.

Initial meetings between old and new characters prove enjoyable as they interact with one another with the audience understanding that in many ways Grant is Grady and Claire is Ellie and vice versa.

Through all of this Trevorrow, who co-wrote the film with Emily Carmichael, weaves a narrative thread that ties old to new as other familiar characters continue to appear, while at the same time new ones such as pilot Kayla Watts (DeWanda Wise) and Ramsay Cole (Mamoudou Athie) add to the proceedings.

No, there’s nothing new here. In fact, no sense of wonder from seeing such realistic portrayals of dinosaurs on screen remains from “Jurassic Park,” which is now close to 30 years old, despite the fact the beasts are even more realistic. In the place of that are Godzilla-like battles and the tension Trevorrow builds despite the fact the audience has ridden this ride before.

That being the case, enjoy “Jurassic World: Dominion” for what it is — a popcorn movie that lets you forget the world for 156 minutes.

George M. Thomas dabbles in movies and television for the Beacon Journal. Reach him at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ByGeorgeThomas

Details

Movie: “Jurassic World: Dominion”

Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum

Directed by: Colin Trevorrow

Running time: 2 hours 26 minutes

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of action, some violence and language

Grade: B

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Review: Colin Trevorrow wraps ‘Jurassic World’ franchise in fun way