As somebody who ranks the original Jurassic Park film as one of my all-time favourites, the Jurassic World films have been something of a bonus.
It’s fair to say that the sequels that followed Spielberg’s 1993 classic were more low key, but the emergence of Jurassic World in 2015 managed to capture the feel of the original without directly copying it.
Sure, Fallen Kingdom (2018) wasn’t quite on that level, but it very much set the stage for what has been billed as the “epic conclusion” to this set of films in the shape of Dominion.
Promising to bring the characters from both the Park and World films together and with Colin Trevorrow back in the director’s chair, there is a lot to get excited about here.
However, it’s perhaps fair to say that Jurassic World: Dominion fluffs its lines a little bit when it comes to cashing in on the great assist it was handed by Fallen Kingdom.
With the dinosaurs now living amongst humans it does, for example, feel like a bit of a waste for that not to be the main plot line here.
If you’re expecting an all-guns blazing humans versus dinosaurs battle for supremacy of the earth, you’ll leave Boston Savoy very disappointed.
That’s not to say Dominion is a total bust, though. Indeed, there are plenty of great moments to lap up and moments of subtle nostalgia that blend in with the unrelenting action.
We find ‘World’ characters Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Clare Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) hiding out in an isolated house as they look after an increasingly agitated Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon). You remember her, she’s the cloned child from Fallen Kingdom – and perhaps the most sought-after person in the world.
Naturally, Blue the raptor and her child Beta are living in the woods near their house.
Things go south when Beta is taken and their world is turned upside down, leading to a mission across the globe that offers thrills and spills galore…and plenty of altercations with genetically modified dinosaurs.
The other side of the story brings Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) back into each others’ orbit.
It’s great to see the big three all back together again and their involvement doesn’t feel shoehorned into the main plot in any way.
I won’t disclose the reason for their reunion, but it’s safe to say that they eventually find themselves back in the crosshairs of apex predators and having to work together to save the day.
The way they come across Owen and Claire feels pretty natural too and it’s a nice moment when it happens.
Also faring well are the new faces, with Kayla Watts (DeWanda Wise) and Ramsay Cole (Mamoudou Athie) playing key roles nicely.
Look out for BD Wong as series verteran Dr Henry Wu, too, while Lewis Dodgson returns after a brief but vital cameo in the very first film, albeit this time played by Campbell Scott.
The dinosaurs are bigger and more dangerous than ever – especially the massive Giganotosaurus – but I can’t help but feel their presence in the wider world was wasted.
Don’t get me wrong, the apex battles between themselves and savage attacks they unleash on humans are great. I just expected more from having humans and dinosaurs on the same battlefield.
Regardless, Dominion nicely rounds off the six ‘Jurassic’ films without ever threatening to close the door on the series completely.
Voice Verdict: 7/10 (reviewed at Boston Savoy)
+ All of the characters blend together nicely
+ New dinosaurs
+ Great action
– Main plot is weak
– Fluffs dinos v humans scenario
