Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Jurassic World Rebirth review says that although this movie is strangely void of anything resembling a rebirth, it’s entertaining enough to please fans.

Jurassic World Rebirth begins with sobering images of what looks like a brontosaurus slowly and painfully dying…in the middle of a major city. The poor guy is annoying the residents by causing a huge traffic jam.

It seems that five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, most of Earth’s ecology has proven inhospitable to dinosaurs. Only those existing outside of specific, isolated locations along the equator similar to what they’re accustomed to are thriving. Those locations have been declared off-limits to all humans, by global decree.

One major, evil corporation, however, has found a way to exploit the dinosaurs that still exist. Their scientists have discovered that there’s something in the DNA of the largest (and most dangerous, it goes without saying) among them that can help eliminate heart disease for good.

So a group of mercenaries is sent to seek out these mutated beasts, one that lives on land, one that swims in the ocean and another that flys through the…well, you get it… to capture blood samples that could save all mankind—or at least those lucky enough to be able to afford the corporation’s cure.

Jurassic World Rebirth review — A game cast

The cast is fun and fresh: Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali play the the rough and tough mercenaries, Rupert friend is the corporate henchman, heartthrob du jour Jonathan Bailey plays the nerdy scientist, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, aka The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix, is the father of two daughters who has taken them on a nautical adventure in a small sailboat. The giant sea dwelling creature capsizes their craft, the corporate-hired crew saves them, and takes them along on their outrageously dangerous mission.

Voila! There are now kids to cower in front of the prehistoric behemoths. What Jurassic movie would be complete without kids?

Fans of the franchise will take delight in the many favorite scenes reenacted in Rebirth. The rearview mirror message, for example. They’ll also revel in betting on who gets eaten first, who survives and in what order with the others will be consumed. I know my party did.

But there’s also a lot of suspense, adventure, and cinematic wonder for those who are not familiar with the franchise. The special effects are as fabulous as ever.

Director Gareth Edwards, with movies like The Creator, Godzilla and Rogue One: a Star Wars Story under his belt, has surely demonstrated that he knows which sci-fi buttons to push.

Be forewarned, however — Rebirth is a little darker and scarier than past iterations, so it may not be ideal for sensitive wee ones. But it’s still good family fun for the holiday weekend, and box office lines will likely be long.

But there’s a lot more death and destruction here than rebirthing. Unless they’re talking about a rebirth for mankind once heart disease is cured forever. That’s just a little too much of a stretch, in my book.

Rated PG-13

2 hours 14 minutes

If this Jurassic World: Rebirth review encourages you to lumber over the to the cineplex and watch, get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Jurassic World Rebirth review says that although this movie is strangely void of anything resembling a rebirth, it’s entertaining enough to please fans.