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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom review
7 years ago
Taking a load off.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a profound disappointment. I didn't expect too much from this latest entry in the Jurassic Park franchise, but I wasn't expecting this level of narrative ineptitude. Director J.A. Boyana does his best with what he's given, but solid direction cannot save the film from sinking under the weight of the screenplay by Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connoly. It is, without question, the worst script in the Jurassic franchise, full of annoying characters, illogical decisions, and plotholes you can sail a barge through.
The entire plot of this movie revolves around this premise that if Isla Nublar blows up (because there's a volcano now, I guess) dinosaurs will once again go extinct. Except, the movie undermines that by quoting lines from The Lost World: Jurassic Park and name dropping Isla Sorna (Site B). When the first Jurassic World came out, producers implied they were disregarding previous sequels, but here they explicitly acknowledge those other entries in the franchise. If there's still a Site B in this canon then, no, dinosaurs are not facing a second extinction, and you already have a second island ideal for dinosaur housing.
And here's something I've been pissed about since the first Jurassic World, but FK takes to a whole new level. I really like Chris Pratt, but, seriously: screw his Jurassic World character. That dude's an ass who has zero definable character traits other than, "Is a man who does manly things." Fallen Kingdom drastically changes the personality of the female lead between films solely so Pratt's Owen character can seem stoic and detached while she gives a sob story about saving the dinosaurs, when, by all accounts, HE SHOULD BE THE ONE TRYING TO SAVE THEM. But no. Man need woman to pull him away from building log cabin and make him feel emotion. He hasn't grown as a character, and an actor who can be as charming as Chris Pratt deserves better than this one-note macho cheeseball.
Jurassic World was an enjoyable, but flawed movie that restarted this franchise. Rather than building on what strengths the 2015 film had, Trevorrow's script doubles down on the worst elements, and delivers what I consider the worst film in the series yet. Honestly, if given the choice between Fallen Kingdom and Jurassic Park III, I'd have to pick III, because at least it's short, to the point, and doesn't contradict its own lore.
The entire plot of this movie revolves around this premise that if Isla Nublar blows up (because there's a volcano now, I guess) dinosaurs will once again go extinct. Except, the movie undermines that by quoting lines from The Lost World: Jurassic Park and name dropping Isla Sorna (Site B). When the first Jurassic World came out, producers implied they were disregarding previous sequels, but here they explicitly acknowledge those other entries in the franchise. If there's still a Site B in this canon then, no, dinosaurs are not facing a second extinction, and you already have a second island ideal for dinosaur housing.
And here's something I've been pissed about since the first Jurassic World, but FK takes to a whole new level. I really like Chris Pratt, but, seriously: screw his Jurassic World character. That dude's an ass who has zero definable character traits other than, "Is a man who does manly things." Fallen Kingdom drastically changes the personality of the female lead between films solely so Pratt's Owen character can seem stoic and detached while she gives a sob story about saving the dinosaurs, when, by all accounts, HE SHOULD BE THE ONE TRYING TO SAVE THEM. But no. Man need woman to pull him away from building log cabin and make him feel emotion. He hasn't grown as a character, and an actor who can be as charming as Chris Pratt deserves better than this one-note macho cheeseball.
Jurassic World was an enjoyable, but flawed movie that restarted this franchise. Rather than building on what strengths the 2015 film had, Trevorrow's script doubles down on the worst elements, and delivers what I consider the worst film in the series yet. Honestly, if given the choice between Fallen Kingdom and Jurassic Park III, I'd have to pick III, because at least it's short, to the point, and doesn't contradict its own lore.
