A Thrilling but Formulaic Return to Dinosaur Roots
Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) — Solid summer spectacle burdened by franchise fatigue
The Premise: Back to Basics with Familiar Stakes
Five years after the events of Jurassic World: Dominion, Earth’s resurrected dinosaurs face a new crisis: climate incompatibility has pushed surviving species toward extinction, confining them to isolated equatorial islands. Enter ParkerGenix, a pharmaceutical giant that hires mercenary Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) and paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) to extract DNA from three colossal dinosaurs—a Mosasaur, Titanosaurus, and Quetzalcoatlus—for revolutionary medical research. Their mission spirals into chaos when they rescue a shipwrecked family (led by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s Reuben Delgado) and strand both groups on Île Saint-Hubert, a former InGen facility now overrun by genetically engineered horrors .
Strengths: Spielbergian Craft and Dino-Mayhem
Director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One, Godzilla) delivers the franchise’s most visually arresting entry since Spielberg’s 1993 classic. His signature mastery of scale and suspense elevates key sequences:
- The River T-Rex Chase: A white-knuckle raft pursuit evoking Jaws and Jurassic Park’s original T-Rex attack, blending practical effects with CGI to visceral effect .
- Mosasaur Ambush: A claustrophobic oceanic set piece where the prehistoric shark-eater dismantles a ship amid torrential rain .
- D-Rex Horror: The new hybrid antagonist (dubbed “Distortus Rex”) is introduced with Edwards’ trademark restraint—shadows, steam, and crimson flares amplify its Rancor-meets-Xenomorph design .
John Mathieson’s cinematography bathes daylight scenes in golden-hour warmth, ditching the desaturated blues of modern blockbusters. Alexandre Desplat’s score subtly weaves in John Williams’ iconic theme, reserving it for moments of genuine awe .
Performances anchor the chaos:
- Scarlett Johansson balances Zora’s mercenary grit with unexpected vulnerability, though her character’s anti-corporate arc feels undercooked.
- Mahershala Ali steals scenes as Duncan, a grieving ex-soldier whose emotional depth transcends the script .
- Jonathan Bailey channels Alan Grant-esque wonder, selling the film’s few genuine moments of dino-magic .
Weaknesses: Clichés and Narrative Bloat
Despite its technical prowess, Rebirth stumbles under franchise baggage:
- Unnecessary Subplots: The shipwrecked Delgado family adds runtime but minimal stakes. Their survival tropes (plucky kids, reckless boyfriend) feel recycled from Lost World and Dominion .
- Predictable Beats: From the “greedy exec” (Rupert Friend) to the lab-engineered “final boss” dino, David Koepp’s script repackages franchise greatest hits without innovation .
- Pacing Whiplash: A sluggish first act (40 minutes of exposition) clashes with relentless third-act action. Edwards’ Spielberg homages—like a valley Titanosaur reveal—lack the original’s character-driven perspective, rendering them hollow .
- CGI Overload: Despite gorgeous location photography, fully digital dinosaurs often lack weight. Fans lament the absence of practical effects that grounded earlier films .
The Verdict: Evolution or Extinction?
Jurassic World Rebirth is a paradox: a technically triumphant yet creatively fossilized sequel. It course-corrects from the World trilogy’s worst sins—ditching mutant overkill (Indominus Rex) and restoring Spielbergian suspense—but fails to justify its own existence. The cast elevates thin material, and Edwards’ set pieces deliver blockbuster thrills (worth the IMAX ticket), yet the film’s nostalgia feels less like rebirth and more like reanimation .
Who Will Love It?
- Franchise loyalists craving dino-chomps and callbacks.
- Families with teens (BBFC’s 12A rating fits; avoid with under-10s).
- Fans of Edwards’ visual flair—especially in 4DX .
Final Thought: Rebirth ranks as the series’ third-best after Jurassic Park and The Lost World—a damningly low bar. It proves dinosaurs can still thrill, but Universal must innovate or let this franchise go extinct .
Where to Watch: In theaters and IMAX nationwide. Streams on Peacock September 2025.
💡 Dino-nerd footnote: The D-Rex’s design spliced T-Rex, Therizinosaurus, and bat DNA—a clever nod to franchise hubris, even if its execution divided fans .
