Jurassic World Rebirth Review

Jurassic Park dared to mix a dream with DNA. Then, Jurassic World explored what would happen if that dream became a reality. Fallen Kingdom put science into corrupt hands and Dominion unleashed dinosaurs into the world. As to be expected, prehistoric predators in a modern setting resulted in absolute ecological and economical uproar.

But that’s exactly where humans find themselves anyway. Why not invite some dinosaurs to the party? Now, Jurassic World Rebirth revisits these themes with a sense of new adventure — and new monsters. This time around, the double helix has been completely broken. And from that genetic chaos, a franchise is reborn.

Warning: Plot specimens have escaped. Minor spoilers ahead.

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Jurassic World Rebirth Synopsis

“Have you ever seen a dinosaur in the wild?”

With a whole new island comes a whole new set of prehistoric problems. Parker-Genix Pharmaceutical Engineering aims to cure human heart disease, so it enlists the help of Dr. Henry Loomis (who studied under the legendary Alan Grant). According to corporate rep Martin Krebs, all they need is non-replicated DNA from three colossal species: titanosaurus, mosasaurus, and quetzalcoatlus. So simple, right?

By analyzing the DNA of the three biggest land, sea, and air animals, humans could finally understand how to improve cardiovascular longevity. Of course, experienced guides are needed, which is where Zora Bennett and Duncan Kinkaid come in. This group travels to the abandoned InGen labs at Ile Saint-Hubert near Barbados, where experimentation with cross-species hybridization occurred years before. Along the way, the group picks up a stranded family, whose sailing trip was interrupted by the territorial mosasaur. But failed experiments have a way of making life more difficult.

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Style + Characterization of Jurassic World Rebirth

“What do you say we stay alive and get rich this time?”

At various points, Jurassic World Rebirth takes some cinematic cues from other big blockbusters. The introduction, inside the InGen labs, is straight out of a Final Destination movie. It’s a little disconcerting that all it takes is a Snickers wrapper to cause the entire laboratory to malfunction, but hey, I’m not an engineer. From there, the film succeeds at building arm-gripping tension, especially during the mosasaur scenes, which feel like an homage to Jaws. That thing is enough to make you stick with swimming pools for a while.

Plus, as they approach the herd of titanosaurus, the tall grass brings us back to The Lost World‘s velociraptor scene. The entire time the expedition was wading through the swaying blades, I kept thinking they would be snatched under by a waiting raptor. Fortunately, the swishing tails of the titanosaurus only ushered in a brief yet much-needed moment of peace. Sometimes it’s nice to just look at the dinosaurs.

Jurassic Park Rebirth Character Development

On the other hand, characterization feels stilted at times. Like always, we’ve got our classic Jurassic tropes: the greedy corporate villain who can’t be trusted, the altruistic scientist, the experienced adventurer(s), and the terrified civilians along for the ride. While knowing the mercenaries’ tragic backgrounds definitely pays off in the end, to make their choices more impactful, the exposition between Zora and Duncan aboard the boat comes off as forced. It’s more of a tell than a show.

However, Loomis is a perfect stand-in for the audience. His genuine love of dinosaurs is infectious. And who doesn’t dream of a quick death in shallow water, buried in silt for optimal fossilization? Now that’s a true paleontologist. Actually, the Delgado family (and Xavier) are the most relatable. Brushing aside dad Reuben’s questionable summer vacation idea, their reactions are painfully believable. Any child Isabella’s age would be absolutely terrified like she is, and it’s satisfying to see Xavier quickly step up as a team player. Teresa helps show Martin for who he really is, and when she says, “I’m not hysterical, I’m homicidal,” her righteous anger is applicable to many current situations.

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What is the D-rex in Jurassic World Rebirth?

“No one’s dumb enough to go where you’re going.”

Now for the big question: What was lurking in that InGen lab? As is always the case, we’re here for the dinosaurs (sorry humans). Jurassic World Rebirth introduces a whole slew of new dinosaurs, some new species and others genetic abominations. On the smaller side, we meet a tiny aquilops, whom Isabella names Dolores. She’s a spunky, adorable companion for the traumatized young girl, and she almost looks like a miniature triceratops.

Out in the field, titanosaurus is new, as are the mutadons. While raptors only make a splashy cameo near the river, mutadons are a raptor-pteranodon hybrid. They stalk and swoop and create screeching terror for the escaping humans. Finally, much like Indominus rex and the Indoraptor, the D-rex from the lab is a mutant. Like the best Universal monsters, the Distortus rex arrives with a little mystery. What’s in that genetic mix? It’s hard to say for sure. There’s definitely some T-rex (it’s in the name, duh). The little vestigial arms give it away. But how’d the D-rex get so big? And what’s with the Xenomorph cranium? We may never know. Just avoid the Snickers.

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Themes of Jurassic World Rebirth

“We don’t rule the Earth, we just think we do.”

After 32 years of human-dinosaur interactions, the general public’s interest is nearly extinct. Dinosaurs only survive now around the equator, dying off elsewhere around the world without proper oxygen levels or habitats. We even see a dinosaur traffic jam (did you spot the Crichton Middle School Bus, referring to Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton?). In this day and age, dinosaurs have become a boring inconvenience to most.

While disappointing and hard for us fans to believe, it also makes so much sense. Only humanity could create a destructive force as a plaything just to cast it aside when it’s no longer shiny or new. Dr. Loomis, as the film’s voice of scientific reason, brings up essential ideas for audiences to ponder. He successfully converts Zora to his side, especially when he says, “Science is for all of us, not some of us.” If only it were that easy in real life. However, maybe that’s what makes the movie work — it’s nice to escape to a story where science does triumph for once.

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Could there have been more dino deaths? Definitely. It did feel like our main group got off a little too easy. Still, Jurassic World Rebirth is an enjoyable return to the land (and sea and air) of dinosaurs. And D-rex is still out there … somewhere.

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