I hated Jurassic World. The movie may have hit the right buttons for a large number of people (there's a reason it broke so many box office records) but the nostalgia element was nowhere enough to win me over on what was ultimately a pretty generic summer blockbuster. Proving that the right director can make all the difference, though, is J.A. Bayona and this sequel not only exceeds expectations but takes greater advantage of the premise than its predecessor and is all the better for it.
Fallen Kingdom kicks off with an intense and memorable opening sequence and wastes no time at all before taking us back to Isla Nublar. There, a combination of an exploding volcano and rampaging dinosaurs results in an edge of your seat action spectacle which will keep you glued to the screen from start to finish. It's true that the sequel sags a little in the middle but it redeems itself with a final act that makes good use of Bayona's horror roots and turns the franchise on its head by basically becoming a monster movie and delivering the same sort of scares that Jurassic Park did once upon a time.
There's a lot of world building in the movie and it's clear that this series is about to go to some weird places and I fear that in the hands of Colin Trevorrow, that's going to be a disaster. That's why we should enjoy this one while we can and seeing what Bayona does next promises to be very interesting indeed.
In terms of the cast, Chris Pratt does a great job of playing, well, Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard has really mastered over the top facial expressions which the camera stays focused on a little too long. She's not awful but she's also not quite good enough to be the lead of a franchise like this one either. The new additions are all very good, though, and while there's not exactly a standout, the cast as a whole is solid and they come together to deliver an enjoyable ride which may not leave you in love with them but you will root for them. Oh, and don't go getting too excited about Jeff Goldblum's return; he gets nearly the same amount of screentime here as he did in the trailer!
Overall, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a blast and a really fun two hours at the theater. The special effects are top notch and as an overall package, it works really well and is exactly what this franchise should be delivering. I can't help but feel it may have reached its peak now but time will tell on that front and if this is as good as it's going to get, we should enjoy it while we can because it's truly fantastic.
A step in the right direction for the franchise, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is roar-some fun and not to be missed.