Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Will Give Your Kids Nightmares, but You'll Want to Take Them Anyway
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Any parent with a few dinosaur-obsessed kids milling around is already well-aware that Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is hitting theaters on June 22. And for fans who saw the original Jurassic World in theaters back in 2015, it should come as no surprise that the latest addition to the franchise doesn't exactly have the makings of a classic kids' movie.
That said, there are plenty of takeaways the older set can get from this flick — which, for the record, is rated PG-13 — ranging from the importance of conserving wildlife to seeing girls totally kick ass. But just to be clear, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is packed with fast-paced action quite literally from the opening scene — and seeing it in IMAX makes it that much more realistic.
The second installment of the latest reboot pretty much picks up where Jurassic World left off, with dinosaurs fighting to survive on the volcanic island of Isla Nublar, and Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) are doing everything in their power to keep them alive. With the setting split between Isla Nublar and an enormous mansion owned by millionaire and Jurassic Park founder, Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), viewers are taken on a wild ride packed with adventure and, of course, dinosaurs.
Thinking about bringing your younger kids to check it out? Here's what you should know before hitting the theater.
1. Expect jump scares, and well, more jump scares.
Let's cut right to chase: while there's no cursing and you don't see a ton of blood or guts, there is absolutely no shortage of jump scares throughout this film — and that includes the opening scene. After all, the entire plot of the movie centers on Claire and Owen trying to rescue these enormous — and often combative — prehistoric creatures from villains, so it's no secret they come out of nowhere once in a while.
And unfortunately for parents with squirmy kids, there's no shortage of dinos coming seemingly out of nowhere throughout the flick. We're talking moments of complete and utter silence — especially once the characters reach Mr. Lockwood's house! — that end with a gigantic T-rex busting through the wall, so remind children to hold onto their popcorn.
2. There are some serious scientific undertones that make animal conservation look cool.
From a parents' perspective, if there's one thing Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom does well, it's that it sheds some much-needed light on how cool science is. The film touches on everything from why it's important to protect endangered species to the awesome things you can do with chemistry, and how knowing a little bit about computer programming can get you out of a bind.
3. People die left and right — especially at the end.
As expected, dinosaurs aren't exactly friendly, especially when it comes to characters who are trying to hurt them. And while you don't see anyone getting their head ripped off per se, there are a few bodies missing limbs here and there, which can be a bit nightmare-inducing, especially for younger kiddos.
It's also worth noting that although kids don't necessarily see blood and gore on the screen, they allude to characters perishing from the very beginning. Remember the giant Mosasaurus that jumped out of the water and plucked off a few people mid-air in the first Jurassic World? All we can say is that the creature is definitely still kickin'.
Full disclosure: the far more disturbing injuries that occur are done at the hands of humans rather than dinosaurs — so keep that in mind, especially once characters start reaching for their guns in the middle of the flick. Animal-lovers will also be mildly heartbroken halfway through the movie when the bad guys give one of the dinosaurs a live goat to eat. Although viewers don't see it in on camera, it's not hard to put two and two together.
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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.
