Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Borget
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids save a town in campy dinosaur sequel; peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Adventures of Jurassic Pet 2: The Lost Secret
What's the Story?
In ADVENTURES OF A JURASSIC PET 2: THE LOST SECRET, a teenager named Wendy (Sophie Proctor) visits her grandmother expecting to have a Christmas break adventure visiting dinosaurs they can see through a portal just once a month. But she winds up getting more than she bargained for when a baby dinosaur named Junior follows them home. Wendy and her friend Curtis (Myles Currin-Moore) need to keep track of Junior until the portal opens again and they can safely return him to his family before anyone finds him. While chasing him in their flying car, they uncover a scheme by a local leader and his minions that threatens their whole city. In an action-packed adventure, Wendy and Curtis band together to save the city and try to get Junior back home.
Is It Any Good?
Kids hoping for a lot of dinosaur action will get some, but not much, in this sequel. In Adventures of a Jurassic Pet 2: The Lost Secret, the story doesn't directly follow the events of the first movie. In fact, other than Albert, the dinosaur from the original, the rest of the characters are all new. Now Albert has a family of his own and his baby T-Rex named Junior is the one getting into trouble. There's still some sort of magic involved as many other dinosaurs are briefly seen in modern day, but it's not really explained, other than a portal opening up once a month in a secret spot apparently only Wendy and her grandmother (and now Curtis) know about. Not only that, but Junior is learning to speak.
The acting and plot are a bit over the top and the CGI leaves something to be desired, but the villain's minions are a comedic duo that bring some much-needed silliness to the feature. Young children okay with pretend violence may enjoy the adventures with the small dinosaur and occasional big ones on screen.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the enduring appeal of dinosaur stories. What do you think makes dinosaurs so appealing to adults and kids alike? Is it their size, or the fact that they're extinct?
Do you prefer more factual movies about dinosaurs, such as in a documentary, or do you like fictional dinosaurs that are friendly with people and can talk? Why do you think people find one more appealing than the other?
What's the movie's message about friendship and family? What do Wendy and Curtis learn from each other?
How did the movie emphasize important character strengths such as empathy, courage, and teamwork?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 28, 2023
- Cast : Sophie Proctor , Myles Currin-Moore , LaRonn Marzett , Carolyn Josephine Wright
- Directors : Ryan Bellgardt , Chris Hoyt
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild action
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate