Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Dinner and a Movie

By Steve Herte

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Universal, 2018) – Director: J.A. Beyond. Writers: Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow (s/p). Michael Crichton (based on characters created by). Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Callas Howard, Rafe Spall & Jeff Goldblum. Color, Rated PR-13, 128 minutes.

While Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) is trying to explain what a colossally bad idea messing around with genetics is at a Senate committee hearing, a submarine pilot (Kevin Layne) is entering the underwater gates at Isla Nublar to obtain a tooth from the now deceased Indominus Rex, the genetically engineered “new” dinosaur from the last movie that was killed by the outrageously large Mosasaur. The tooth is retrieved and the Mosasaur gets the sub as a tasty tidbit.

After four movies, we pretty much know all the characters, we know that the T-Rex can be a hero as well as a villain, and we know that Blue is the last of the velociraptors (Beta, Delta and Echo were killed in the last film). And a theme carried over from the previous episode is that socially misguided Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) thinks that using the recovered genetic material from the tooth, Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong) can create a powerful, intelligent monster that will obey commands. Worse, he thinks that he can sell these always-hungry creatures to the world powers as weapons of war.

Back on Isla Nublar, the formerly dormant volcano is going to blow in a big way. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) feels she must save the dinosaurs from going extinct (again) and talks Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) into returning to the island on a rescue mission for his favorite velociraptor, Blue. They bring Franklin Webb (Justice Smith) a computer geek to restart Jurassic World’s systems and locate Blue and Zia Rodriguez (Daniella Pineda) a paleo-veterinarian. Yes, by now, that’s a real vocation. She comes in handy when mercenaries mortally wound the hapless raptor.

This rescue mission is funded by Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), former partner of park founder John Hammond. He has a plan to relocate the dinosaurs to their own island where they can live in peace without human interference. But Mills and Gunnar Eversol (Toby Jones) have their own plan to relocate the huge beasts to the basement of Lockwood’s North California mansion, where they will be sold at auction. Their army of mercenaries under the ruthless Ken Wheatley (Ted Levine) accomplish this incredible deed by sedating and caging the animals and stowing them on a really large boat.

What a surprise for Maisie Lockwood (Isabelle Sermon) when she overhears Mills’ plan, rats out Mills to grandpa and later meets a Baryonyx in her very own basement (kind of a large raptor or small T-Rex with a crocodile-like head). It’s shocking to the housekeeper and Maisie’s nanny, Iris, (Geraldine Chaplin) when Mills locks the child in her room.

But Maisie escapes. Owen and Claire are captured, but escape (with the help of a Pachycephalosaur – the one that look like it’s bald and keeps butting things with its head); we know at the beginning that the Mosasaur has escaped and the party begins. Poor Dr. Ian Malcolm has to reappear at another senate hearing at the end to explain coexisting with dinosaurs. “These creatures were here before us. And if we’re not careful…they’re going to be here after.”

One might think that, with all the familiarity with the cast, the plot and subplots and the over-sized saurians, the story might have gotten old and almost hackneyed. This film actually had me chuckling in a couple of places, like when the Indoraptor fakes sedation as Wheatley tries to pull one of its teeth (a really bad idea). Or when it roars at the terrified Gunnar and blows back his Trump-like blond hair.

At two hours and eight minutes, the movie is a bit long, but it has its surprises, tense moments and scenes that bring you to the edge of your seat. Hey, Blue needs a transfusion from a dinosaur with two or three fingers on each hand. That sounds like the T-Rex, right? I enjoyed the humor scattered throughout the film. I suspect there might be another one. Stay all the way through the credits and see if you agree with me.

Rating: 4 out of 5 martini glasses.

Joe Allen

326 West 46^th Street, New York

www.joeallenrestaurant.com

Having dined at 32 restaurants on New York’s famed Restaurant Row (46^th Street, between 8^th and 9^th Avenues) I wonder how I ever missed this one.

Containing a long room is divided in two by a wall of open brick punctuated by large arched “windows” with potted plants on their sills, I had a table by the brick wall and I couldn’t help but notice the long line of Broadway show posters hanging on the opposite wall. I could not recognize a single one of them (and I’m pretty good with shows). After my waiter, Matt, brought me my usual Beefeater martini, I scanned the single card menu, noting nothing exotic except for the Thai Vegetarian Stew. The rest was just basic American comfort food.

I started off with Caesar Salad and Black Bean soup, which arrived simultaneously. The black bean soup was served with sour cream and chopped onions, and both were good. The soup stayed hot long enough to finish it and enjoy the salad.

To my joy, none of the bottle on the wine list were priced above $78. I found a 2012 Chateau des Mille Anges Bordeaux Blend (60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc) St. Germain de Graves. It was a beautiful red with a bright fruity flavor and authoritative finish.

Of the six choices for main course I chose the Strip Steak with French Fries with sautéed spinach as a side. The steak was cooked to my specifications and was tender and juicy inside, blackened and crisp of the outside, and the fries were excellent. A little too salty, but perfectly crispy and flavorful. I asked if they were double-fried, but Matt didn’t know. The steak came with a red wine reduction for dipping that was subtle and didn’t interfere with the flavor of the meat. The spinach was a nice pile of savory leaves, slightly garlicky and well prepared and the only part of the main course I finished. As I was becoming full I had Matt pack up the remainder of the steak and fries to go and asked for the dessert menu.

The seven selections on the card were all something I’ve had before except for one. The Mango Cheesecake sounded good. It was a square of almost flavorless cheesecake with a mango compote on top and a raspberry sauce for color. Oh well.  I ate the mango part and left the rest, telling Matt it wasn’t what I was hoping for.

The double espresso, on the other hand was very nice and a snifter of cognac finishes off a traditional meal perfectly. Joe Allen keeps a low profile on Restaurant Row as compared to the gaudier places like Bourbon Street or The Ritz. The menu is simple but satisfying for all tastes and the prices couldn’t be better. If you’re a beer fancier, they have a remarkable variety from local brews to International IPAs. I would definitely return there if I have to meet a friend who fears most of the foods I like.

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