Five films in you can’t expect the series to forge too much new ground. They have a formula that works and people love seeing dinosaurs running amok.

This story brings back Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) to bookend the film, and puts Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard – bit of a crush) and Chris Pratt as Chris Pratt as Owen Grady back in the path of the dinosaurs.

Isla Nublar, the site of the original Jurassic Park, and Jurassic World has fallen into disrepair, but is making global headlines by the reveal that the volcano on the island is active. Claire is spearheading an effort to save as many of the species as they can, but can’t get finances for.

Enter Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell). Revealed to be one of Hammond’s original partners, he seems intent on saving some dinosaurs, as he rests, uneasily, in his sprawling mansion, which he shares with his granddaughter, Maisie (Isabella Sermon). He and his company are tended to by Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) who viewers will realize pretty quickly is the baddie in the film.

Lockwood will finance the rescue trip, Claire recruits Chris, I mean Owen, to help rescue Blue the raptor, and she is also joined by Franklin Webb (Justice Smith – love this actor), and Zia (Daniella Pineda).

Lockwood’s team includes Ken Wheatley (Ted Levine!!). And look who else, back to cause more problems… Dr. Wu (Benedict Wong)!

It doesn’t take long for betrayals once they hit the island, and things go badly very quickly. There are dino escapes, some tightly paced moments, and a poignant moment that has a powerful emotional impact, despite the knowledge that it is all visual effects. I’m talking about that brachiosaurus scene.

That is a butt kicker.

Once things are off the island, the story moves to the Lockwood mansion. There are underground facilities, a new dino-creation – the Indoraptor, and there’s the sense that the tone shifts to a haunted house story… with dinosaurs.

It works for the most part. Sure there are some pacing issues, but the visual effects are solid. There’s a pretty good mix of VFX and practical, and there are secrets revealed… Maisie.

Micheal Giacchino delivers a great score, that marries the familiar John Williams’ Jurassic themes with his own musical moments.

I wish Chris Pratt would stretch himself a little. It seems like now that he’s found this version of himself, that’s the only thing he can/wants to play. It mostly works for the film, and the role, but you find yourself wanting a little more from her performance this time around.

There are some solid sequences, and the film is entertaining enough. We’re five films in and we keep coming back for more. And with the reveal that the dinosaurs are now out in the world, it suggests a whole new way of life for everyone on the planet, something Dr. Malcolm points out as the film draws to its close.

So I wonder what that will mean for the next film in the series; Jurassic World: Dominion.