Despite each installment grossing over $1 billion at the global box office, the previous threeJurassic Worldfilms failed to develop any characters that captured even a fraction of the charisma that Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), and Ellie Satler (Laura Dern) had inSteven Spielberg’s 1993 masterpiece. Even if the dinosaurs were the real stars of the franchise,Jurassic World Rebirthseemingly made a savvy decision in assembling a new cast to kickstart the “rebirth” of the franchise. Although directorGareth Edwardsis a far more competent visual filmmaker thanColin Trevorrow,Jurassic World Rebirthfeatures the same dull human charactersas the other sequels.
Set five years after the events ofJurassic World Dominion, the new film sets up the concept that the dinosaurs living on the forbidden island of Ile Saint-Hubert have biomaterial that can be extracted and used to make radical medical advances. In order to ensure that his company can take advantage ofthe lucrative financial opportunities, the pharmaceutical representative Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) hires the special operations expert Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), the paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), and the boat captain Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali) to lead an expedition to the island. Despite the talented cast,Jurassic World Rebirthsuffers from bland characterization, and does not properly utilize its dinosaurs.
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Doesn’t Take Advantage of Its Cast
Among the reasons thatJurassic Parkis one of the greatest summer blockbusters ever made is that the audience gets to experience the same sense of awe that Grant, Malcolm, and Satler do upon seeing the dinosaurs for the first time, as they share a collective enthusiasm for science.The characters inJurassic World Rebirthare shallowand only motivated by money, as humanity itself has grown past its infatuation with dinosaurs. While it was obvious that a business leader like Krebs would always have a cynical perspective, it’s disappointing that Zora is only willing to experience the wonders of the island because of the financial benefits. Although Loomis does briefly speak about the importance of respecting the natural order of life, his concerns are often overshadowedfor the sake of comedic relief.
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“I’m saying money finds a way.”
Jurassic World Rebirthfeatures surprisingly vapid and bland backstories for its characters, which they are only able to express through dull, expositional exchanges that are not cinematically interesting to watch. Although it is suggested that Zora and Duncan have both experienced trauma after losing loved ones, this potentially compelling shared history is only briefly mentioned, and does not factor into their decision-making process. Loomis’s backstory is even more frustrating, as despite referencing the fact that he studied under Dr. Grant, the film gives him very few opportunities to discuss why he became interested in paleontology in the first place. Despite an admittedly compelling opening scene, the first third ofJurassic World Rebirthconsists of conversations with these characters,who don’t seem to develop in the slightest.
The trailers thus far have managed to hide the fact thatJurassic World Rebirthincludes two separate groups of protagonists, as its only shortly after Zora’s group begins moving towards the island that the group establishes the single father Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), his younger daughter Isabella (Audrina Miranda), his elder daughter Teresa (Luna Blaise), and her boyfriend Xavier Dobbs (David Iacono). These characters are riddled with cliches and don’t contain any unique perspective on dinosaurs that would make them compelling to watch. Perhaps the intention was to include characters without special knowledge, who the audience could possibly relate to, butthe overabundance of obnoxious family banterundercuts any suspense.
‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Takes Too Long for the Dinosaurs To Show Up
Pacing is a major issue inJurassic World Rebirth, as the film does not take the time to examine the consequences of the ending ofJurassic World Dominion. While the opening scene is among the scariest scenes in the series since the original, it does not include any characters that appear in the rest of the film, which removes any opportunity for the viewer to get emotionally involved. The lack of dinosaurs in the first third may have been forgivable if the characters were engaged in passionate discussion about the ethics of the situation, as was the case in the originalJurassic Park, but their discussions aredevoid of any legitimate science. It doesn’t help that the characters seem impervious to harm, which robs the film of any tension when the dinosaurs finally do start appearing.
Edward is ultimately not a strong filmmakerwhen it comes to characterization, as his previous films,GodzillaandRogue One: A Star Wars Story,both featured overcomplicated plots that preceded the big set pieces. While Edwards may have attempted to replicate the “less is more” lesson fromJaws, he seemingly overlooked the fact that the absence of an active threat means that it must be replaced by something else compelling. Even if audiences only seek out films within the franchise to see dinosaurs in their glory,Jurassic World Rebirthdoesn’t give them the screen time or respect that they deserve.
Jurassic World Rebirthis now playing in theaters.
Jurassic World Rebirth
Jurassic World Rebirth explores the revival of dinosaur attractions with advanced genetic engineering and immersive experiences. As scientists and park staff grapple with ethical dilemmas and unexpected challenges, the balance between human ambition and nature’s unpredictability is tested, leading to unforeseen consequences that impact both the prehistoric creatures and their creators.
