Review: ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ rescues a floundering franchise

After the previous chapter — 2018’s incomprehensible “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” — one could be excused for doubting that the supposed finale in this hit-or-miss franchise would be any good.

But with Steven Spielberg’s first, ]and much better, batch of characters back for more fun (Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler, Sam Neill as Dr. Alan Grant, and Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm), and strong new secondary characters, director/co-screenwriter Colin Trevorrow reaches a satisfying end point with “Jurassic World: Dominion.”

Plus, the scenario for “Dominion” is one we’ve been waiting for. It takes place four years after the end “Fallen Kingdom,” with all the dinos originally stuck on Isla Nublar sprung from their confined environment and now roaming the earth, where they’re often being mistreated and causing a stir.

The setup opens up the story for a greater range of predicaments and locales, ingredients that spice things up. It also allows for exciting, sometimes spectacular action sequences that weave in commentary about genetic engineering, animal abuse and humanity’s divisive nature.

But “Dominion” has a big elephant stuck in its room, one that becomes more apparent once the casts from the “Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic World” storylines meet and eventually team up to take on the evil Biosyn genetics company. And that is “World’s” go-to characters — the dino whisperer/wrangler Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and harried ex-Jurassic World manager Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) — just aren’t very interesting. And some of their antics are laughable.

Throw in a subplot involving genetic coding and a young clone Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) who’s been adopted by Owen and Claire, and you have a “World” with too many pieces in it.

Fortunately, new characters introduced in “Dominion” command more attention and respect. They include a brash pilot Kayla Watts (DeWanda Wise) and Biosyn’s head of communications Ramsay Cole (Mamoudou Athie), among others. Their presence helps make this “World” much better than its predecessor and reveal new possibilities in a franchise that had looked like it was on its last legs.

Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.

‘JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION’

2½ stars out of 4

Rating: PG-13 (intense action sequences, some violence, language)

Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, Isabella Sermon

Director: Colin Trevorrow

Running time: 2 hours, 26 minutes

When & where: Opens in theaters June 9