Jurassic World: Rebirth is not a reinvention
FILM REVIEW
Jurassic World: Rebirth
2 1/2 out of 4 stars
Rudy Segovia
Headliner Chicago
Jurassic World: Rebirth
2 1/2 out of 4 stars
Rudy Segovia
Headliner Chicago
photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
As a legacy fan of the Jurassic franchise, there's still a certain thrill every time a new installment arrives. That sense of anticipation hasn’t faded, even if I’ve accepted that none of the sequels will ever recapture the magic of Spielberg’s 1993 original. But honestly, that’s okay. Sometimes, it’s enough to grab a giant popcorn, switch off your brain, and enjoy a familiar universe that’s been stomping through pop culture for over three decades.
Set five years after Jurassic World: Dominion, Rebirth acts as a sequel to the 2022 entry. In this chapter, the world has largely moved on from dinosaurs—museums, pop culture, and public curiosity have all lost interest. Yet, there is one thing dinosaurs could do for the human race. The plot kicks in quickly: a possible cure for heart disease may lie hidden in dinosaur DNA. Enter a covert team on a high-stakes mission to the equator to retrieve it. The crew includes mercenary Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), and captain Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali). The stakes are high — lives to save, money to be made, and dinosaurs to face. The three actors do an amazing job on screen to give their characters depth and have great chemistry together in their mission and quickly show why they are a great team.
Set five years after Jurassic World: Dominion, Rebirth acts as a sequel to the 2022 entry. In this chapter, the world has largely moved on from dinosaurs—museums, pop culture, and public curiosity have all lost interest. Yet, there is one thing dinosaurs could do for the human race. The plot kicks in quickly: a possible cure for heart disease may lie hidden in dinosaur DNA. Enter a covert team on a high-stakes mission to the equator to retrieve it. The crew includes mercenary Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), and captain Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali). The stakes are high — lives to save, money to be made, and dinosaurs to face. The three actors do an amazing job on screen to give their characters depth and have great chemistry together in their mission and quickly show why they are a great team.
photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
Unsurprisingly, comparisons to the original film are inevitable—and yes, especially in the latter half, Rebirth feels like a non-stop dinosaur adventure packed with jump scares and thrilling set pieces. Some of the special effects even channel the visual tone of 1993, which is no accident. David Koepp, who penned the original Jurassic Park, returns to write this one, bringing back his signature style while introducing new threats—namely, pharmaceutical greed and genetically modified dinos.
Like many sci-fi blockbusters, Rebirth occasionally puts spectacle above story. The plot is a little thin, particularly the heart-disease cure angle. Had the film opened with a news segment or a personal stake—say, a character in need of this miracle drug—it could’ve added emotional weight. A subplot about a family lost at sea doesn’t do much to serve the narrative, either. It seems to exist mainly to check the box for “kids in danger,” a Jurassic staple. The dynamic between the teenage daughter and her uninspired Gen Z boyfriend feels forced; their lack of chemistry on sea suggests they’re not much of a couple on land, either.
If you're here for nostalgia, dinosaurs, and summer-movie fun, this film delivers—especially in the second half. If you're expecting the next Jurassic Park, this isn’t it. Still, there’s value in cinematic comfort food and sometimes, it’s just nice to catch up with an old friend and enjoy the ride.
Like many sci-fi blockbusters, Rebirth occasionally puts spectacle above story. The plot is a little thin, particularly the heart-disease cure angle. Had the film opened with a news segment or a personal stake—say, a character in need of this miracle drug—it could’ve added emotional weight. A subplot about a family lost at sea doesn’t do much to serve the narrative, either. It seems to exist mainly to check the box for “kids in danger,” a Jurassic staple. The dynamic between the teenage daughter and her uninspired Gen Z boyfriend feels forced; their lack of chemistry on sea suggests they’re not much of a couple on land, either.
If you're here for nostalgia, dinosaurs, and summer-movie fun, this film delivers—especially in the second half. If you're expecting the next Jurassic Park, this isn’t it. Still, there’s value in cinematic comfort food and sometimes, it’s just nice to catch up with an old friend and enjoy the ride.
Jurassic World: Rebirth
opens in theaters nationwide on Wednesday, July 2
opens in theaters nationwide on Wednesday, July 2