4. The movie definitely has some sad parts.
Without giving it away completely, there is one especially upsetting part involving a stranded Brachiosaurus that actually made me weep as the characters are leaving Isla Nublar. Compared to Jurassic World, the movie is a little more glum — so prepare your children for some tears and get ready for questions along the lines of: "Does that mean the dinosaurs dies?!" as soon as the scene is over. But don't worry, the ending totally makes up for all the tear-jerking moments!
5. Jeff Goldblum makes an appearance, so parents can get their kicks, too.
Fans of Jurassic Park (1993) will be happy to know that Jeff Goldblum — aka the silver fox — makes two short appearances in the movie, and we'd be lying if we said he didn't look especially handsome. Although your kids definitely won't give a hoot about catching a glimpse of him, we wouldn't be doing our duty if we didn't report back on a sighting. And FYI: Chris Pratt doesn't look half bad, either, even though his shirt is on the whole time.
6. The female characters are freakin' awesome.
As far as casting goes? Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom deserves a gold star. Bryce Dallas Howard is a complete badass as Claire and has the snarky lines to prove it. Speaking of wit, Daniella Pineda shines as paleontological veterinarian Zia Rodriguez, who saves the day on more than one occasion and offers the right dose of comic relief at key moments. Isabella Sermon totally crushed her role as Maisie Lockwood — Benjamin Lockwood's brave granddaughter — proving that girls are brave as hell.
Casting so many strong female leads is a great excuse to bring your older daughters to check the movie out. There's not one instance of the classic "damsel in distress" motif, which will make your girls feel empowered and parents breathe a sigh of relief. And frankly, it's a nice reminder there's no such thing as too many female scientists.
