Review: “Jurassic World”

More than expected.

It’s safe to say that, leading up to the release of Jurassic World — the 4th installment in the Jurassic Park franchise — my personal expectations were fairly low. I’m not sure the exact reason why: Was it the overuse of computer generated imagery? How about the feeling that World might be another cheap cash in movie? Maybe it’s all of the above. Or… perhaps I’ve become more cynical and jaded with age, like the adults in The Polar Express who can no longer hear the magical ring of the Christmas bell.

Thankfully, that last possibility isn’t quite true. Yet, anyways.

Yes, Jurassic World is filled with a majority of animated dinosaurs, but we rarely see their seams, as all blends in well. Yes, World is part of a bigger trend of Hollywood rehashing older properties for an extra buck, but its clever writing and infectious earnestness make it stand out among the assembly line heap. And yes, despite my being a critic, even I could hear a whimsical ringing sensation at times. Jurassic World is, all over, a success of absolute cathartic fun.

To lay out specifics would only hurt and spoil your enjoyment, so allow me to tread lightly. World takes the action of the original King Kong, the climatic boiling point of the recent Godzilla and the gung ho attitude of the first Jurassic Park and combines them into an imaginative spectacle. It’s been called “the proper sequel” we’ve been waiting for, though I would say that it’s really the fan film we’ve been wanting. Clearly, filmmaker Colin Trevorrow loves the series, loves scary beasts and loves suspense and danger. What he has crafted here isn’t so much a continuation of the story, or even a reboot, but both a tribute to the first flick and a what if scenario brought to continuity life.

The scope and canvas of the story feels very confined, which is surprising for a sequel with the word World in its title. Some of the ideas brought about by the movie aren’t nearly as grandiose and bold as in Park. In that movie, we had themes of nature and control. In this new one, we barely scratch the surface of what to talk about when we bring dinosaurs back for our amusement. It really is just fan service, ultimately, giving us exactly what it expects we want. It acts like the park in the story does, but it’s got a heavier head on its shoulders than you’d think.

From the get go, we get references to both the franchise itself, and to blockbusters in general. Woven into the plot is a commentary on “bigger” and “better” “products”, and if it’s possible to be satisfied in a more and more over saturated age of media. Questions are answered, or rather its own answers are provided, while doing the business of rampaging exotic creatures. World knows exactly what kind of fantastical tale to spin, and understands not to rock the boat with redundant conversation on the previously covered ground. So instead, it changes the discussion and moves on. Which, for a movie teased with footage of Chris Pratt teaming with Raptors, is probably the best move. It doesn’t ask us to think TOO hard, but just enough to get more out of it than expected.

“More than expected”. If you go into any movie with a low bar, more than likely, it’ll be met. Even though Jurassic World sets things pretty high, don’t walk to it at that level — be completely overtaken with surprise.

3.5 / 5