Review of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) by Troy C — 23 Jun 2018

After 2015's Jurassic World proved an enormous success ($1.6bn worldwide box office!), it's a surprise to exactly no one that Universal has returned for a second bout of four-quadrant thrills and claw-tapping chills.

With the usual eye-rolling plot contrivances and ludicrously thin character development, this sequel won't garner many new fans. But talented Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona (replacing out-of-favour Colin Trevorrow) adds a bit of spice; his horror roots coming to the fore in the final act to craft some tense and exciting mansion-bound set pieces.

It's a clever move shifting the action-after an unexpectedly enjoyable first-act disaster sequence-to a more confined space, the physical limitations helping to ratchet up the tension. There's a healthy spattering of humour and tongue-in-cheek knowingness, but the repartee between Chris Pratt's Raptor-whisperer Owen and Bryce Dallas Howard's Dino-lover Claire gets stale in a hurry.

Bayona's zest behind the camera, and his willingness to veer towards the scarier side of the franchise, makes this a decent enough sequel, however Fallen Kingdom is hamstrung by its reliance on formula and penchant for silly moments.