‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’: A Mixed Bag of Reviews
It’s been three years since Jurassic World: Dominion, the successful yet divisive capstone of the trilogy. In the world of cinema, that’s practically an eternity. The dinosaurs are back, this time featuring stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey.
‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’: A Mixed Bag of Reviews
It’s been three years since Jurassic World: Dominion, the successful yet divisive capstone of the trilogy. In the world of cinema, that’s practically an eternity. The dinosaurs are back, this time featuring stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey.
A Return to Basics
The seventh installment in the Jurassic series sees director Gareth Edwards and original Park adapter David Koepp taking a more stripped-down approach, which has garnered mixed reactions from critics.
According to Variety‘s Peter Debruge, “Jurassic World: Rebirth serves as a reset of sorts, bringing back not a single former cast member, but instead allowing screenwriter David Koepp to restore what made the original film so compelling.”
Divided Opinions
However, the success of these efforts is where the reviews diverge. Critics like The Hollywood Reporter‘s David Rooney appreciate the strong cast, even if they are working with some recycled thrills.
Rooney notes, “Returning screenwriter David Koepp co-wrote the 1993 Spielberg original with sci-fi author Michael Crichton. While Koepp did not write Jurassic Park III, he influenced its plotline. The first and third installments yield abundant déjà vu moments in Rebirth… Despite its lack of originality, the film compensates with a propulsive narrative, big scares, and appealing new characters played by a talented cast.”
See More ...
Conversely, others like IndieWire’s David Ehrlich find the film’s reduced scale somewhat hollow, possibly due to studio interference. He states, “Rebirth isn’t better than the previous five sequels, but it’s less bloated than the last three. Its spectacle feels empty, as if shaped by countless studio notes, creating a legacy that reflects how humanity struggles to control its own creations.”
Lack of Urgency
What kind of “emptiness” does he refer to? Vanity Fair‘s Richard Lawson echoes this sentiment, critiquing the film’s attempts at horror and wonder as lacking. He writes, “The mellow tone becomes problematic as the film progresses. Nothing feels urgent. The new genetically modified creatures are uninspired, and while there are emotional elements, the film overall feels unserious. Edwards, known for his visuals, creates stunning imagery but fails to instill a sense of consequence.”
Critical Reception
Currently, the film holds a mediocre score of 56 percent on review aggregation sites like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Despite the mixed reviews regarding character and story, one aspect most agree on is the performance of Jonathan Bailey.
As Entertainment Weekly‘s Maureen Lee Lenker puts it, “Bailey delivers the film’s most poignant moment. His genuine joy at touching a dinosaur after years of study captures the magic that made Jurassic Park a classic.”
Jurassic Park: Rebirth is set to hit theaters on July 2.
