Review: Jurassic World (2015)

Pratt and Howard star in a divisive blockbuster.

Directed by Colin Trevorrow
Produced by Patrick Crowley and Frank Marshall

Written by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly

Starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jake Johnson, Nick Robinson, Ty Simpkins, Omar Sy, Irrfan Khan and B.D. Wong

A-

Dinosaurs are back, and Colin Trevorrow has managed to resurrect a dead franchise. After the passing of John Hammond (played by the late Richard Attenborough), the creator of the original Jurassic Park, his legacy continues with Jurassic World, which now thrives as major theme park. Claire Dearing (Howard) is the operations manager at the park, and her nephews Zach (Robinson) and Gray (Simpkins) have just arrived for the holidays. When she calls in Owen Grady (Pratt), a trainer working with raptors, to examine the cage of a new hybrid dinosaur, the beast escapes, putting the whole island at risk. The team of experts, security, and corporate minds must catch the animal, but it'll be a deadly undertaking in this fight for survival.

While this movie was in development for over a decade, Trevorrow has delivered a thrilling, nostalgic adventure with just his second film and first blockbuster. The film is lean and never slows down, which is uncommon in the age of big, bloated action extravaganzas. There are great nods to Steven Spielberg's original adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel, and the new cast are surprisingly effective. Chris Pratt continues to be a charismatic action hero, and Bryce Dallas Howard does a fine job as a clichéd workaholic who changes when disaster strikes. (Though, her character wouldn't run in high heels for that long.) Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins, meanwhile, prove to be the best child actors in the Jurassic franchise. A great supporting cast is rounded out by actors like Vincent D'Onofrio, Jake Johnson, and Irrfan Khan, who hit just the right notes. John Williams' theme is lovingly used throughout the film, and the visuals and action sequences are first-rate. Despite initial reservations, this is a wonderful entry in the Jurassic series, and it's one of the best blockbusters of the year.

Oscar Potential: Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects