Jurassic Word Rebirth is a familiar roar.

3 out of 5

Jurassic World: Rebirth stomps back onto the screen this summer, attempting to breathe new life into the well-trodden dinosaur franchise. While it delivers on the spectacle and creature action that fans have come to expect, it ultimately feels more like a rehash than a true rebirth, with many nods to the 1993 original.

Visually, Rebirth is as stunning as its predecessors. The CGI dinosaurs are, as always, the undisputed stars of the show, rendered with impressive detail and a terrifying sense of scale. At least director Gareth Edwards gothe the dinosaurs right. the last film had poor CGI. If you can't get the dinosaurs right, then what's the point? The action sequences are loud, chaotic, and often thrilling, providing the necessary adrenaline rushes as humans once again find themselves at the bottom of the food chain. There are a few genuinely tense moments and some creative set pieces that showcase the sheer power and danger of these resurrected beasts. For those looking for pure dinosaur mayhem, the film certainly delivers on that front.

The only new thing about this seventh installment is the cast: Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali as freelance covert operatives Zora and Duncan, Jonathan Bailey as paleontologist Henry Loomis and Rupert Friend as a pharmaceutical titan named Martin who wants to treat coronary disease by harvesting samples from three massive reptile hearts. And that's the plot. Get three things and go home. Simple, right?

Beneath the impressive visual veneer, Rebirth struggles to find a fresh narrative footing. The plot feels largely formulaic, adhering closely to the established "dinosaurs escape, humans try to survive" blueprint. There's a noticeable lack of innovation in the storytelling, and many of the "twists" feel telegraphed well in advance. The human characters, while competently portrayed by the cast, often serve as little more than vehicles for exposition or targets for the rampaging creatures. Their motivations and emotional arcs are thin, making it difficult to truly invest in their plight.

The film also grapples with a sense of déjà vu, recycling themes and scenarios that have been explored multiple times throughout the series. While there's a certain comfort in familiarity for long-time fans, Rebirth doesn't push the boundaries or offer a compelling new reason for its existence. It feels content to play it safe, providing a competent but ultimately uninspired continuation of the saga.

You may consider yourself inured to product placement. Even so, its use here is brazen and strange. There’s even a scene in an abandoned convenience store which, despite a decade and a half left in the custody of pesky dinosaurs, the snack labels remain tidily pointed toward the camera. At least that setting has a modified raptor pausing at a soda cooler to admire its reflection.

In conclusion, Jurassic World: Rebirth is a perfectly watchable popcorn flick. It will keep the kids happy as it's loud, visually impressive, and offers enough dinosaur action to keep them entertained for its runtime. However, it fails to evolve beyond the well-worn paths of its predecessors, resulting in a film that's enjoyable enough in the moment but ultimately forgettable. It's a safe bet for a casual watch, but don't expect a groundbreaking return to form for the franchise.

Part of the narrative backdrop, indeed the words appear bravely on the screen, is that after 32 years of who-coulda-thunk-it rampages, humankind is tired of dealing with the darned things. Audiences can relate.