Review: 'Jurassic World' bites into the modern blockbuster; film doing well locally

Along the scaly spine of the Tyrannosaurus Rex runs the evolution of Hollywood blockbustering.

Twenty-two years ago, Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" set the standard for the kind of movie the industry has, ever since, bred like test-tube dinos. Their genes are modified for the requisite computer-generated effects, merchandising tie-ins and theme park-style attractions.

While it's easy to lament the kind of films born out of Spielberg's box office record-setter, "Jurassic Park" was -- and still is -- a kind of pop perfection that has been copied endlessly but rarely equaled since.

"Jurassic World," the latest incarnation of the franchise, is lacking the deft sense of wonderment, wit and suspense that guided the original. Director Colin Trevorrow, who ended his first and only other feature, "Safety Not Guaranteed," with a Spielbergian magical twist, instead has made a more biting thriller hung up on the corporate mandates of post-"Jurassic Park" Hollywood.

But general manager of Wehrenberg 14 Cine Kevin Dillon said even for one of the most anticipated movies of the year, "Jurassic World" is outperforming the already hyped predictions.

Chris Pratt, left, and Bryce Dallas Howard are shown in a scene from "Jurassic World." (Chuck Zlotnick ~ Universal Pictures)

"We're seeing a very good turnout. I don't believe we anticipated it performing as well as it did," he said. "We thought it would be a strong movie, for sure, but it's beating people's expectations."

Wehrenberg 14 Cine has been screening the movie about 24 times per day in five theaters, both 2- and 3-D.

"The evening shows are all about 80 percent full," Dillon said. "Everyone who has watched it has enjoyed the movie. We'll have it up ... so people should check it out."

Dinosaurs were meant to be experienced on the big screen, and Dillon encouraged movie lovers to catch it in theaters.

"Just based on popularity, I know there are a lot of movies coming up over the summer, but it will probably be around about eight weeks," Dillon predicted. "As long as it's doing business, we'll try and keep playing it."

Bryce Dallas Howard, left, as Claire, Chris Pratt as Owen, Nick Robinson as Zach and Ty Simpkins as Gray are shown in a scene from the film "Jurassic World." (Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment)

Thus far, at least, "Jurassic World" has given audiences what they want: what was once a charmingly hokey, if fatally misguided island resort off Costa Rica created by a wealthy, wide-eyed carnival showman has grown into a sprawling, monorail-traversed theme park worth billions. Jurassic World is a Dino Disney World, complete with long lines, bored teens and no shade to speak of. For better or worse, "Jurassic World" has done a good job of recreating the theme-park experience.

The feat of bringing dinosaurs back from extinction is no longer enough of a draw for the park, an obvious parallel to the pressure on Trevorrow to amplify entertainment and maintain franchise profit. New species of dinosaurs have been created genetically to satisfy the masses streaming through the gates. Some even get outfitted with electronic headsets, bringing us ever closer to the cinema of Dr. Evil: "sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads."

"Bigger, louder, more teeth" is the demand of the park's corporate overloads, which includes the serene CEO Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan). But the real face of the new Jurassic World is operations manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), a business-suit-clad executive who calls the dinosaurs "assets" and describes the park in terms of revenue, not awe.

When her two nephews, a brooding teenager named Zach (Nick Robinson) and his younger, more excited brother Gray (Ty Simpkins) arrive for a visit, Claire spends most of her time in the NASA-like control room or hosting potential sponsors.

The only one who seems to understand the dinosaurs is Chris Pratt's Owen Grady, a kind of Velociraptor Whisperer. He's trained a foursome of Raptors, each sporting its own nickname, by clicking sounds. He shouts commands ("Stand down, Blue!") that would sound more fitting for an over-friendly Parson Russell terrier than a resurrected raptor.

When the dinosaurs' intelligence is underestimated again, chaos returns to the park, courtesy of a wily, ferocious hybrid of mysterious genetic makeup called the Indominus Rex. He's part T-Rex, part frog and all business when it comes to the chompy-chompy -- none of that tenderness of the Tyrannosaurus. He's a focus-group-tested product for maximum appeal -- again, just like "Jurassic World."

The corporate commentary in the screenplay, by Trevorrow, Rick Jaff, Amanda Silver and Derek Connolly, comes across as heavy-handed, partly because it's not smoothed by humor. If the modern blockbuster could use anything, it's a rework by a few talented comedy writers. As a control-room worker, Jake Johnson lands the only real laugh.

The 3-D "Jurassic World" is also an ugly, oversaturated movie; CGI has run amok here as much as dinosaurs. After nods to John Williams' classic original, Michael Giacchino's unremarkable new score punctuates the action as the characters gradually come together from locations across the park. Vincent d'Onofrio's opportunistic military contractor also is lurking.

Pratt, the Harrison Ford heir apparent, slides perfectly into the film. But it's Howard who makes the biggest impact as a corporate cog whose controlled world is imploding. It's not a subtle portrait -- she keeps her heels throughout -- but her transformation is the most convincing one in a film full of dubious evolutions.

"Jurassic World," a Universal Pictures release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for "intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril." Running time: 124 minutes. Two stars out of four.

Staff reported Tyler Graef contributed to this story.

MPAA definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP