Dinosaur-lovers have just one franchise to depend on; it's not fair! Superhero fans have at least two major players in the medium, as do spaceheads. But us who identify as pro-prehistoric, it's all on Jurassic Park/World to satisfy our appetite for those long gone animals. The latest film, "Jurassic World: Dominion," is a largely satisfying finish to the hexalogy.
By being the only major dino series, this sixth picture takes some major risks, like getting caught up in the silly theology of the previous five films. Does anyone who didn't attend a day-one screening wearing that familiar T-Rex logo on a tank top really care that Dodgson returns? (Albeit played by Campbell Scott.) Probably not. But hey, it's a wild ride from a wildly uneven property; I mean, how else could explain director Steven Spielberg's turgid "The Lost World: Jurassic Park?"
The plot is, if anyone even cares by this point, involves Owen and Claire (Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, respectively), who're raising Maisie (Isabella Sermon), now full of angst. Then she's abducted by the evil Biosyn corporation, along with a baby raptor, the same company Ellie Sattler (Lara Dern) is investigating over genetically engineered locusts with Alan Grant (Sam Neill). Oh yeah, and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) works there too.
What in the (jurassic) world do insects have to do with ANYTHING? Well they're bent on destroying the world's food supply, though whether that's intended or a side effect is never really made clear. Why doesn't the government get involved? Well it is their "dinosaur sanctuary" front, and this is where Dodgson comes in. A very loose parody of any rich tech guy today, he's not above getting his hands dirty in the underground illegal living-fossil black market. If this all sounds like some drunk monster mad lib, I assure you that it's all to real. It's ridiculous really, but never confusing, as long as you're fine with accepting the sheer lunacy that the franchise has become. I'm firmly in that camp.
The action, which is far more important here, involves motorcycle chases, dimly lit tunnels where something with a spin may linger, burning bugs falling from the sky (which probably triggered bad memories for the cloned creatures of their ancestors' extinction), it's really all over the place. It doesn't have a point, but I never, not once during its surprisingly long runtime, give a damn.
Its pacing is zippy and is constantly throwing a crazy new plot point, whether a new concept or callback. They even expand on the wackiness of the already nutty concept of the cloned girl from the previous "Fallen Kingdom." The "how" is not something I'm going to spoil, though I will say it's as unnecessary as anything else here.
Actually that's not entirely true: in today's climate, there's an unexpected amount of cultural perspective within its goofy surface. The whole series is inarguably a monster-movie representation of what happens when men try to control women's bodies. Sound familiar?
What about corporate greed? That's here too and one with access to any online forum should know how much people hate that nowadays. (Always?) Oh, and how could I forget non-traditional parents on display? (I mean, she is a clone.) This might be a dumb summer blockbuster, but it's a lot smarter than your average one.
I'm giving this three-stars because it puts dinosaurs in different scenarios, different locations than anything before it. It finds unique ways to recycle what its audience expects, which is all the more surprisingly when you consider its only real competition is "Godzilla." And let's be honest here, America has never really cared about the famous man-in-a-rubber-suit.
I mean I do of course, but look at me- I'm writing about a movie you're gonna buy tickets to anyway, so what do I know? A good time when I see one, that's what.
No comments:
Post a Comment