3 Short Paragraphs: Jurassic World

2015, Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guranteed) -- cinema

I am not sure why but I really wanted to see Jurassic World in the theatres, most likely because I just needed a big, dumb summer blockbuster that I had nothing invested in. And that is exactly what I got. It was made with gobs of money, is big, spectacular with great lead actors but not a lot of intelligence in the writing. In fact, the lack of intelligence amongst the leaders of the park sort of reflects the low common denominator intent of the creators -- do whatever you have to make us money. And it shows, because in the long run, a few weeks after seeing it, there is nothing lasting in my recollection about the movie, as with all great popcorn movies.

Well, almost nothing. My thrill in watching the utter ridiculous nature of Bryce Dallas-Howard's defiantly high heel wearing character was immense. To explain. Bryce plays Clare Dearing, the park's operational manager, in pristine white business suits, eyes always glued to her smart phone and a complete awareness and understanding of every aspect of the park. Well, at least those parts that the company that owns the park lets her in on. She is a control freak, completely focused on maintaining her place, her role in the running of the park. She sacrifices all to the park, even her relationship with her sister, as she drops her nephews off with her assistant instead of bonding with them personally. Her shoes become the symbol of this. Clare's power comes from being in control of the park; when she loses this, she clings to her last vestige, a pair of expensive high heel shoes.

Even when the perfect park becomes a death trap, and the genetically engineered, brand new, even nastier, teethier dinosaur starts rampaging and eating people left and right, Clare barely roles up her sleeves. Its a joke in the movie, but for the audience as well. She gets progressively dirtier, fleeing from the monsters, fighting the monsters (and saving the Male Lead, Chris Pratt) but never gives up the shoes. I saw it as tongue in cheek defiance. But the outrage machine saw it as a slight on women. More offensive to me was the death of her assistant, who did nothing but stay loyal to Clare's ideal, and was rewarded by being swallowed whole.