JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION

 Chris Pratt     Bryce Dallas Howard     Isabella Sermon     Laura Dern     Sam Neill

Jeff Goldblum     DeWanda Wise     Mamoudou Athie     Campbell Scott     Omar Sy     BD Wong

            There are plenty of thrills and chills in this production, and if you like chases of one kind or another (cars, motorcycles, dinosaurs), you’ll be especially pleased.  Much of it is over the top with screams, screeches, dark scenes, and rapid-fire camera movements.  In that sense, special effects and action over-ride the story, most of which is about characters trying to get out of horrifying situations.

            Picking up on Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), we meet up again with Owen (Pratt) and Claire (Howard) and the “daughter” they have rescued, Maisie (Sermon), settled in their country home with endangered animals living on the property.  Maisie is a teenager and chomping at the bit to get out from under the protection of their home.  But knowing the keen scientific (and commercial) value she carries, Claire and Owen are torn between allowing her to satisfy her longings and keeping her safe from kidnappers.  

            Predictably, a giant corporation, Biosyn, has emerged as a major force in genetics research and commerce, headed up by Lewis Dodgson (Scott), with Ramsey Cole (Athie) and Ian Malcolm (Goldblum) on his staff, and Kayla Watts (Wise) as a contractor for supplying animals Biosyn is eager to acquire, and the only one contributing a bit of humor here and there.  But…hmmm…maybe Biosyn has some nefarious purposes…

            All these characters end up on Biosyn’s property fighting for their lives after one or another major mishap occurs or threatening dinosaur(s) appear.  The filmmakers have done a good job in portraying the horror and terror in these scenes; it’s just that there are too many of them for my taste.

            When Dune had a major sweep of Academy Awards for the crafts this past year, I was pleased because they well deserved the praise.  Will Jurassic World Dominion capture similar acclaim?  I think not, even though the filmmakers have appeared to go all out for technological flash.  The difference is that Dunehas a strong story line with many kinds of nuances and issues to grapple with, and although preserving animal species and partnering with nature is a strong theme here, I doubt it will achieve the same acclaim that Dunereceived.

            It’s likely that most Jurassic fans will lap up the continuation of this franchise, but others less enamored may say, “Enough!”

 

An ongoing story that has difficulty measuring up to its prior versions.

 

Grade:  C                              By Donna R. Copeland

PATTI CAKE$

Danielle MacDonald     Cathy Moriarty     Bridgett Everett     Siddharth Dhananjay     Mamoudou Athie

     Is there a more unlikely rapper than an overweight, kinky blonde-haired white girl without much in the way of charm?  That’s Patricia “Patti” Dembrowski aspiring to become a famous rapper in New Jersey.  One of the film’s strongest points is illustrating just how demeaning others can be toward someone like that.  She’s been teased since childhood—especially by one cruel kid from junior high—so has developed a thick skin, but it still hurts and can knock her off her feet (literally), especially when she’s caught up in her passion—rap.

     Up-and-coming writer/director/musician Geremy Jasper is impressive in his first feature film, in that he has found the perfect actress (all the way from Australia) to play the role with a New Jersey accent and the chops to rap; he has constructed an engaging story with emotional depth; and he steers the production expertly through potential mine fields (diversity in race, musical genres, family issues) with grace and care.  Danielle MacDonald is experienced in television drama mostly, but has no trouble transitioning over to moviedom.  She adds spunk to her character and easily conveys all the ranges of emotion Patti will experience as she rides the up and down course of a musician trying to make it.  Clearly, she could not have succeeded without some very special people in her corner.

    At home—which is a squalid apartment shared with her unsupportive and rather ungrateful alcoholic mother Barb (Everett), who competes with her and denigrates her taste—and her ailing Nana (Moriarty) in a wheelchair, who is faithfully in her corner every step of the way.  Another supporter is her friend and fellow musician Hareesh (Dhananjay)—actually a pharmacist—who is her personal cheering section able to overcome all her negative self-statements, although he does have his limits, which is to the good.  Finally, owing to Patti’s undaunted pursuit of a punk rocker living in a shack by the cemetery equipped with all the latest technology, Bob, self-named the “Antichrist”  (Athie), is persuaded to join Patti and Hareesh in producing the group’s first CD in their new name, “PPNJ.”

     In the beginning of the film, I found it hard to sit through all the scenes at home where no one ever seems to pick anything up, except Barb, whose hand is continually picking up a drink; endure the taunting on the street of “Dumb Patti” and violence toward her by a thug; and see how Patti scrambles with everything she can muster to support her mother and grandmother.  But gradually, some good things begin to happen, Patti learns how to manage and cope better, and she gets some breaks.  It’s not all rosy; there are still some downers, but it’s not hopeless.

     Patti Cake$ will not be to everyone’s taste and the viewer must have some appreciation for rap music, but those inspired by “true grit”, creativity, and sensitivity to social issues, will see much to be entertained and inspired by.  Those familiar with Bridget Everett’s and Cathy Moriarty’s early careers, will get a nostalgic kick out of their roles in this film.

Take a seat on the roller coaster ride to stardom—at least almost there.

Grade:  B                                    By Donna R. Copeland