Parents' Guide to Jurassic World Dominion

This franchise installment is saved by the original trio of actors who made the original Jurassic Park memorable. Dern, Neill, and Goldblum add much-needed heft to Jurassic World Dominion as characters who are committed to saving the world. That puts them in contrast to Owen and Claire, who are on an extremely personal mission to rescue their daughter from a profit-seeking corporation. The dinosaurs are less impressive this time around, with familiar (and, at this point, predictable) battles between apex predators and several life-or-death moments. But it is a refreshing change to see the predators stalking around a snowy mountain landscape or co-existing with humans around the world. The movie's visual effects and other technical elements are high-quality, with excellent sound design and another on-point Michael Giacchino soundtrack that incorporates John Williams' original theme.

Directed by Colin Trevorrow from a script he co-wrote with Emily Carmichael, the film reunites the original Jurassic characters with the reboot stars, but the story doesn't come together seamlessly. Some developments feel forced and implausible (even beyond the suspension of disbelief required to watch this franchise), like when two characters emerge from a crash landing without even a visible bruise. The characterization is similarly uneven, although at least the three Jurassic Park actors don't need too much support to embody the scientists many viewers will fondly remember surviving the first film. And, despite its missteps, Dominion still delivers enough tension and edge-of-your-seat dinosaur battle action to entertain fans of the franchise.