Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend
Director: Gareth Edwards
I really wanted to love this movie. After years of watching the Jurassic World series stumble around like a confused Stegosaurus, Rebirth promised something different, a fresh start that would bring back the magic we all remembered. And you know what? In some ways, it actually delivers. But man, does it also break your heart.
The Good Stuff (And There Really Is Some)
Let’s start with what works, because Gareth Edwards clearly knows how to make dinosaurs feel genuinely terrifying again. Those set pieces everyone’s talking about? They’re legit incredible. The scene where the Mosasaurus comes up from the depths to attack the boat had me gripping my armrest like I was actually on that thing. And that T-rex chase through the rapids? Pure adrenaline.
Edwards has this gift for making you feel tiny in a world full of massive, ancient predators. The cinematography is gorgeous. sweeping shots that remind you just how small humans really are when nature decides to show off. For those moments, you remember why you fell in love with dinosaur movies in the first place.
The basic story idea isn’t bad either. Instead of another “oops, our theme park is broken” disaster, we get something that feels more like a heist movie. A team needs to sneak onto a dangerous island to steal DNA that could save lives. It’s focused, it’s got clear stakes, and it sidesteps the franchise’s recent obsession with world-ending plots.
Where It All Falls Apart
But here’s where my heart breaks a little: none of the people in this movie feel like real people.
I mean, we’ve got Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. Two actors who can usually make me care about a grocery list if they’re reading it with conviction. But here? They’re just walking around spouting dialogue that sounds like it came from a screenwriting manual. “We need to get to the extraction point!” “The situation has become complicated!” You know the drill.
The worst part is watching these talented actors make decisions that no actual human would ever make. Why would you split up when there are literal monsters hunting you? Why would you ignore the obvious warning signs? It’s not clever writing, it’s just lazy shortcuts to get us from one action scene to the next.
And don’t even get me started on how the movie tries to juggle like five different storylines at once. We’ve got the main mission, then there’s this whole separate family drama, plus mysterious island secrets, plus corporate conspiracies… It’s exhausting. Instead of feeling like one cohesive adventure, it feels like three different movies that got mashed together.
The Frustrating Thing About Almost-Great
You know what hurts the most? This movie is so close to being really good. Edwards clearly understands how to build tension and create those “holy crap” moments that make your jaw drop. The dinosaurs look incredible, the action is genuinely thrilling, and there are moments where you can see the movie this could have been.
But then characters start talking, or making baffling choices, or the plot gets distracted by yet another subplot, and you’re pulled right back out of the experience. It’s like watching someone assemble a beautiful puzzle, then randomly scatter half the pieces on the floor.
The Bottom Line
Jurassic World Rebirth isn’t a bad movie, exactly. It’s more like a really expensive, really beautiful missed opportunity. If you’re desperate for some decent dinosaur action and can ignore weak characters, you’ll probably have a decent time. The spectacle is genuinely impressive.
But if you’re hoping this will be the movie that finally brings the Jurassic franchise back to its roots? Well, let’s just say we’re still waiting for that particular extinction event to end.
It’s better than the last few sequels, sure. But “better than terrible” isn’t exactly the ringing endorsement a franchise reboot should be aiming for. Sometimes the most dangerous thing in Hollywood isn’t a T-rex, it’s a script that needed a few more rewrites.
My Rating – 3.8/5