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Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Writers: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly MPAA Rating: PG-13 Genre: Action, Adventure 
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Jurassic World is a popular theme park on the verge of unveiling its latest attraction, a genetically enhanced version of the Tyrannosaurus Rex - known by park insiders as the Indominus Rex. The park's director, Claire, has little concern for the dinosaurs under her care and even less time for building a relationship with her visiting nephews. But Claire is forced to re-evaluate her priorities when her two nephews go missing, just as she discovers that a terrifying breach has occurred and the Indominus Rex is on the loose.
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Strengths:
Gender Roles - Women Self-Esteem and Body Image Plot Love
Gender Roles - Women: 4 Stars
Claire has a forceful and intimidating presence from beginning to end, and is even quite likable - despite the fact that she's initially portrayed as someone who is pretty heartless and only concerned about the bottom line. She maintains this strong persona in the midst of the chaos that ensues, never losing her ability to take charge and make decisions. By the end of the film, she's taken this dominant personality and redirected it in a way that audiences can appreciate and relate to. She is no longer a callous workaholic, but simply a leader who is able to hold it together in a time of crisis.
Self-Esteem and Body Image: 3 Stars
Claire's appearance is a bit too pristine in the beginning. Her hair, make-up and skin are flawless, and her outfit is the perfect blend of authority and femininity, right down to the cream-colored heels that never leave her feet. Of course, she does lose pieces of this glowing exterior as the chaos unfolds around her. Life gets messier and she digs right in, unafraid of the dirt or sweat that comes with it. Although it helps to see Claire let go of some of her initial superficiality, Jurassic World still loses some points for the fact that she never changes her shoes. Up until the very end, we see her running from a Tyrannosaurus Rex in some of the most impractical footwear imaginable. Clearly she is no longer wearing the shoes to make a fashion statement, but it might have done something for Claire's personality to show her slipping on a pair of sneakers that she kept in the back seat of her car. Something to show us that she isn't all about appearances all the time, and that she could switch gears at a moment's notice.
Plot: 4 Stars (Spoilers)
Claire may not go charging after the Indominus Rex with a pair of Velociraptors, and she's never given the opportunity to confront the twisted scientists that engineered the Indominus Rex, but she still has her moments of glory. As Owen is being assaulted by a Pteranadon, she's able to grab his rifle and shoot the animal before it tears into his throat, rescuing him from a gruesome death. And towards the end of the film, as the Velociraptors are losing their struggle against the Indominus Rex, she has the insight and the courage to release the only other creature on the island that might save them, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Claire is a lot more than another pretty face tagging along for the screams. She keeps a cool head through it all and it's fair to say that without her efforts, this film would have had a far more brutal ending.
Love: 3 Stars
The love story between Claire and Owen may be simple and shallow, but it never purports to be anything more than that. They have a flirtatious and antagonistic relationship that pre-dates the film, which is perhaps the only thing that makes this romance actually work. They don't form a bond as they're tracking down and evading murderous dinosaurs so much as drop some of the arrogance and pride and start to see the courage and selflessness in each other for the first time. As far as we can tell, Claire doesn't need to drop her hard-headed attitude in order to win Owen's affection. To the contrary, it seems to be the very thing that draws him in. |
Room for Improvement:
Gender Roles - Men Character Development
Gender Roles - Men: 2.5 Stars
Owen is a stereotypical, rugged male lead, but he has a soft spot for the dangerous animals that he trains - which immediately makes him more likable than Claire. He also has the physical prowess and skills necessary to take a more direct role in the fight against the Indominus Rex. All things considered, he's more of a hero than Claire ever could be, but he respects her role and allows her to contribute to the action without belittling her or insulting her too much. He's happy to be her savior, but at the same time, doesn't mind letting her steal the spotlight a time or two.
Character Development: 3 Stars
Claire doesn't have much history or flesh to her. We don't know if it was an interest in science, or dinosaurs, or simple career advancement that brought her to Jurassic World. The film does a fair job of transforming her from someone who is driven and ruthless to someone who does care about people and family, but it take an epic crisis to bring out these qualities. It's difficult to say what kind of woman Claire might become after the tragedy has passed. Whether this is a temporary transformation or something that might stick. She never comes across as particularly remorseful for her past behavior of the role that she played in allowing the breach to occur. She doesn't bond with her nephews over anything of substance, but simply tries to protect them from being eaten by a rampaging dinosaur. till, there is something about the way she pulls herself together that suggests the ruthless, workaholic was always hiding someone a bit warmer and more adventurous underneath. It's the only logical explanation for her attraction to Owen. Or the fact that she insists on placing herself in harm's way rather than hiding out in the control room until the danger has passed. |
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