Jurassic World Dominion is so hilariously bad, it’s good. This is the last movie in the Jurassic World Trilogy – which attempts to form some closure with what happens when the dinosaurs live in the wild. It brings with it a sense of nostalgia with characters from the original Jurassic Park. And ultimately shines light on a fear of powerful humans trying to rule over science and nature.
It opens to a world outrun by dinosaurs, with news clips of people being randomly attacked by flying prehistoric creatures on the beach, in the city, etc. Headlines reminiscent of title sequences for Godzilla Attacks and The Blob. Oh – we thought we could live together in harmony? Not so fast.
Chris Pratt returns as Owen Brady the dinosaur whisperer, and he still has absolutely no chemistry with his girlfriend Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard). They’re hiding out and harboring Maise Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) as their own daughter now. Then there’s their pet Velocirapter, Blue, who still gets a little unruly, but nothing a raised hand can’t control. Don’t forget she can reproduce asexually. Because why not? Toss in a few million scientifically altered locusts that are destroying the food chain, and it’s time to call in reinforcements.
Back for more are Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ian Malcom (Jeff Goldblum). There’s an erie connection between Sattler and Grant that doesn’t sit right. Malcom has a new gig with the bad scientists at BioSyn, (pronounced “sin”), and barely mutters three jokes.
“What’s the plan? Whatever happens.”
As if there aren’t enough characters for the group money shot (which happened no less than three times), they throw in more. Kayla Watts (DeWanda Wise) is a transport pilot who suddenly stops thinking about her payday when she recognizes Maise is in danger. For no real reason, she joins in the fun of the rescue. However, she’s badass and has some great lines.
The next hero who changes his story on a dime is Ramsay Cole (Mamoudou Athie). As BioSyn’s communications manager, his loyalty to its leader Lewis Dodgson doesn’t even seem questionable, until suddenly it is. He helps the trapped scientists escape as the locusts spout like a volcano through the ceiling. It’s supposed to feel like impending doom, but instead we’re like, what’s next?
It’s a whole mess of people and not enough dinosaurs. There is one well-executed action sequence with Pratt being chased on a motorbike by programmed velociraptors who are chasing a red laser light – yes like the cats love. The penultimate scene between the feared T-Rex (who gracefully positions himself in the circle logo at just the right time) and the new Giganotosaurus (lol) feels hokey and sloppy. But by this point, I’m laughing a lot anyway so I am soaking it in.
Overall Jurassic World Dominion is chaotic and cluttered with too many undeveloped characters and competing storylines, but I had a great time with it.