Nothing might ever top Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park, but Jurassic World: Rebirth is the only one that’s come close, and that’s entirely because of its near-perfect cast. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, Audrina Miranda, David Iacono, Bechir Sylvain, and more, the film effectively touches on nostalgia while offering its own unique and deeply nuanced assessment of humanity and the creatures who once lived among us.
Where pacing is concerned, moments throughout the feature could have been consolidated more carefully to avoid dragging and weighing down the plot. Still, that is a minor concern for a film that’s thoroughly entertaining. Best viewed in a theater with a big crowd, the laughter wouldn’t stop coming, primarily during every single great line drop from Jonathan Bailey, whose embodiment of paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis was everything the nerds could ever want.
While this franchise is often entertaining, even when it fumbles as it unfortunately did with most sequels, Jurassic World: Rebirth actually feels like a story that’ll grow momentum as we move forward. It feels like one I’ll personally want to rewatch and revisit in the same way that I turn back to the original for comfort. Structurally, it’s a winner, and the thematic emphasis on helping all people instead of only those who are already rich and can afford it is a universal message that feels like it’ll always be necessary in the world.
Now, let’s geek out over the standout performance from Jonathan Bailey. Every time I think I can’t possibly adore Bailey more, he proves me wrong, and it’s an incredibly beautiful thing to watch a beloved actor continuously soar to new heights as he showcases the wide range of emotions he’s capable of. And we knew how much Bailey was capable of, yet it’s still deeply rewarding to watch him geek out over dinosaurs in an awe-struck manner that almost exclusively brings back the magic of the original films.
And maybe that’s just it. A large part of the magic in Jurassic Park is this idea of wonder and newness. Human beings get to walk into a park full of dinosaurs, and while it’s not at all as we picture, that magic is still there. And though it’s understandable that some of the charm would decrease over time, especially while dinosaurs are normalized in this version of society again, Henry’s character allows the entire ordeal to feel both familiar and like a novel discovery. His banter and chemistry with Johansson, and every little expression Bailey dons, make Henry the type of character people will actually remember long after the credits roll. Give me three more films. I need them.
With a fantastic original score from Alexandre Desplat, featuring the original theme from the legendary John Williams, remarkable directing from Gareth Edwards, and solid CGI work topped with the engaging performances and character dynamics, Jurassic World: Rebirth is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining films of the summer. It’s a roaring good time, full of surprising moments of levity, satisfying character journeys, and a solid, genuinely hopeful message we could all use these days.
Jurassic World: Rebirth is now playing in theaters.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Universal Pictures