Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom detonates dino-might, but not always a blast

JURASSIC World: Fallen Kingdom detonates plenty of dino-might, but is not that much of a blast. Thank heavens Chris Pratt has the lead, or this would be a dino-snore.

THREE years ago, the Jurassic Park phenomenon was re-conjured to spectacular effect at the global box-office.

No-one really saw the mega-success of the franchise reboot Jurassic World coming, but it all made sense in hindsight.

We love a good monster movie to munch popcorn at. And if dinosaurs are involved, all the better.

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There was a strong seam of pent-up demand out there to watch prehistoric predators chase after and chew upon hapless human beings, and Jurassic World mined every last bit of it.

Now it’s time for another one, and if you are expecting anything else but more of the same from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, you will be sorely disappointed.

Those prepared to settle for plenty of regularly scheduled “behind you!” and “gotcha!” moments won’t have any quibbles at all.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is pretty much more of the same. Picture: Universal Pictures/AP

It also does not harm the entertainment prospects of Fallen Kingdom that its leading man, Chris Pratt, is the second most irrepressibly likeable figure in movies right now. (No shame in Pratt coming in at number two. It is clear Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will be holding the title belt until he feels like ditching it.)

Once again, Pratt is playing dashing dino-whisperer Owen Grady, a full-time punchline generator and part-time boyfriend of the wide-eyed sciencey nerdess Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard).

These two get along like a house that never catches alight, but hey, no-one really goes to these kind of munch-’em-ups for the kissin’ and the cuddlin’, do they?

Chris Pratt is dashing and likeable. Picture: Universal Pictures/AP

The plot of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom? A bit of a fossilised fizzer, really.

The only real intriguing twist in play is that dinosaurs are now a hot commodity on the black market for near-endangered species. Understandably, the big beasts are not all that happy about being traded as spare parts for a newly weaponised strain of DNA.

Some dinosaurs comically tiptoe up adjacent to their panting prey, and all but wink at the camera before snack time starts. Other dinos (make that a lot of other dinos) comically donk their head on hard objects at opportune times, usually so a featured character can make a quick getaway.

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A few fights but the plot’s a fizzer. Picture: Universal Pictures/AP

Pratt out-runs a volcanic eruption. Rafe Spall hams it up as the villainous CEO cashing in on the dino-DNA craze. Jeff Goldblum drops by to provide a link to the original Jurassic Park trilogy.

Other than that, between the big bites and sudden frights, there ain’t too much to be remembered past the closing credits.

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Not looking good for Bryce Dallas Howard (left) and Justice Smith. Picture: Universal Pictures/AP

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM (M)

Rating: Two and a half stars (2.5 out of 5)

Director: J.A. Bayona (A Monster Calls)

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeff Goldblum, James Cromwell, Rafe Spall, Daniella Pineda.

New show of dino-might an echo of past blasts