⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3

Anne Hathaway Shines in David Robert Mitchell’s Sci-Fi Dinosaur Survival Film

Anne Hathaway anchors yet another major release, delivering a standout performance that elevates a modest sci-fi survival feature. Directed by David Robert Mitchell and produced by Bad Robot, this late-summer entry lands as one of the final blockbuster releases of the season.

The story premise relies on a weak narrative framework, featuring unexplained phenomena with little logical reasoning for its central premise, dinosaurs suddenly roaming an 80s-style suburban street. The script lacks depth, leaning heavily into familiar, high-concept genre tropes.

Anne Hathaway is brilliant and endlessly versatile; she gives the performance her all and anchors the most watchable scenes. Her commitment prevents the film from feeling entirely disposable. Ewan McGregor, plays her husband. He feels a little disposable in the role, failing to make as strong an impression.

The backlot-style external street scenes evoke a distinctly retro 1980s studio-tour aesthetic. While lacking grit or realism, the nostalgic visual style has a certain charm. The dinosaur effects feel limited by budget. The film relies on close-ups of partial creatures (feet and heads) or distant shots of full dinosaurs, while closer encounters feature smaller, snake-like variants.

While it essentially plays out as Jurassic Park on a budget with a predictable finale, the film delivers enough dramatic closing scenes to remain entertaining. Thanks entirely to Hathaway’s performance, it avoids the “dump month” label. It is ultimately a breezy, enjoyable watch, best suited for the home screen, where the scaled-down effects will likely play more effectively.

After a mysterious cosmic anomaly rips an ordinary suburban neighborhood completely out of modern-day suburbia, the Platt family finds themselves stranded in an unknown, unrecognizable location. Cut off from the rest of the world, they soon discover that their new surroundings are a dangerous, prehistoric landscape filled with ancient creatures.  

As dinosaurs and other prehistoric hazards begin threatening their enclave, family members Denise (Anne Hathaway) and Greg Platt (Ewan McGregor), alongside their children, must stick together to navigate the hostile terrain, figure out the mystery behind the cosmic event, and fight for their survival.

Online synopsis 

Film Rating

Music/Sound

3 out of 5

Story/plot

2 out of 5

Acting/Performances

4 out of 5 (Anne Hathaway carries the film)

Overall

3 out of 5

Certification: 12A
Running time: 99 minutes
Screening type: 2D