There aren’t many out there whose cinema-watching lives have not been touched by the Jurassic film franchise. For the older among us, the Jurassic journey would have begun with Jurassic Park, while the younger ones will call Jurassic World their calling card to the franchise. Either way, audiences have been thrilled by the interface of dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures with our modern world, and it’s been one thrilling Sci-fi adventure ride that not many have resisted.
So here today, we’re on the brink of what has been called the final film of the era, Jurassic World Dominion; and to put it bluntly, the film serves up fan service in a big way by uniting the main protagonists of Jurassic Park with that of Jurassic World. This, in essence, is the big payoff, the true selling proposition of the film, and of course, it’s then self-aware enough to know that the film can’t stand solely on the merits of said reunion. It’s important that a new narrative also takes place to grip the audience’s interest. It’s directed by Colin Trevorrow, with a story by Derek Connolly and Trevorrow, with Steven Speilberg listed as Executive Producer.
After the destruction of Isla Nubar in the last Jurassic World installment (Fallen Kingdom), this Dominion opens with a world where humans and dinosaurs have learned to coexist. Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen (Chris Pratt) have gone off the radar, living in the wilderness in order to offer some safety and security to Maisie (Isabella Sermon). And not by coincidence, Blue, our favorite Velociraptor, lives in the same remote area with her children.
To say much more would be tempting spoilers to crop up in this review. Tech giant Biosyn is once again in the crosshairs of the narrative, along with Dino-poachers and smuggling rings. And the big payoff is of course, to find that the likes of Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) crop up in the course of the storyline, and aren’t just mere cameos.
DeWanda Wise as Kayla Watts, former Air Force pilot who ends up helping Claire and Owen on their mission to rescue Maisie and Blue’s progeny, is the one new character that audiences will readily gravitate to, feeling it’s a shame that she only appears in this purported last film of the franchise.
During the global media event held a couple of weeks before the film debuts, much was made of how COVID had delayed the shooting of this film, but that as it is, it’s still good to have put that much more time and effort in the endeavor. The whole team feels this is one strong way to end the franchise and come full circle via the unification of Park and World. And forgive me for stating the obvious, but given that the very first film came out in 1993, we’re talking about a 29-year reign, and it’s nice to have most of the lead cast of that 1993 film still around.
At two hours twenty-seven minutes, the running time of Dominion may be an issue with younger audiences, who quickly get antsy or restless. And I did personally feel some editing and cutting of scenes could have taken place without diminishing the strength of the film. But for a true Blue fan like Issa, each precious minute was part of a wonderful farewell to this franchise. She whooped when Blue made her appearance, applauded silently as the lead cast of Park showed up on the screen, and loved how the iconic big dinosaurs of both Park and World end up in the same frame.
Park meets world gets the job done, and if it’s truly the last we see of the film franchise, it’s a beautiful way to bow out.