Big Dinosaurs.

Big Pharma.

These disparate topics might not seem to have links across the epochs. They do in “Jurassic World: Rebirth.”

Big Dinosaurs, a type of reptile that first appeared during the Triassic period 243 million to 233 million years ago, disappeared during the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event approximately 66 million years ago, believed to have eliminated three-quarters of the plant and animal species on Earth, including dinosaurs.

Big Pharma, a name for the pharmaceutical industry, arose in the middle- to late-1800s in Germany, Switzerland and the United States. The term Big Pharma, which entered the lexicon in the mid-1990s, refers to multinational pharmaceutical companies.

In “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” an expedition led by Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), who is a covert operative; Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), who commands a military-type speedboat; Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), a paleontologist, and Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend), a pharmaceutical company representative, attempt to extract DNA from three dinosaurs on Ile Saint-Hubert, an island east of French Guiana and site of InGen’s former Research Facility. The biomaterial is said to be needed to develop a pharmaceutical for heart disease.

The researchers’ speedboat is attacked by a giant sea-going dinosaur, said to be a Mosasaurus.

Also attacked is the sailboat of a family: Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), a father; Teresa (Luna Blaise), his eldest daughter; Isabella (Audrina Miranda), his youngest daughter, and Xavier Dobbs (David Iacono), Teresa’s boyfriend.

The sailboat tilts over. The speedboat crew rescues the sailboat family. The speedboat runs aground on the island. The sea-going scenes are reminiscent of the movie “Jaws” (1975; set for re-release Aug. 29, including IMAX).

The family gets separated from the expedition team. Parallel action of the family and the expedition team on the island continues throughout the movie. A Tyrannosaurus rex chases the family, which is on a rubber raft, down a river. The expedition team rappels a cliff.

The dinosaurs in the original “Jurassic Park” (1993) have a visual poetry, from a distance, that is. The dinosaurs in “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” seventh film in the franchise, are mostly downright ugly, more like the monstrosities in “Godzilla” films. The dinosaur stomping around the abandoned research park at the end of “Jurassic World: Rebirth” is especially hideous, an abomination dubbed Distortus Rex (D-Rex), a genetically-engineered, mutated Tyrannosaurus Rex.

The time frame of “Jurassic World: Rebirth” is confusing. It’s said to take place five years after “Jurassic World: Dominion” (2022) in the year 2027. Not sure why.

The location of “Jurassic World: Rebirth” is confusing, The expedition is not to the fictional Isla Nublar, original site of “Jurassic Park” and its dinosaurs, and which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2015). The island in “Jurassic World: Rebirth” is Ile Saint-Hubert, where research by InGen to develop mutant dinosaurs took place.

“Jurassic World: Rebirth” has the requisite jump cuts that will turn you into a leapin’ lizard in your movie theater seat. There’s lots of scenery-chewing, not only by the actors, but by the dinosaurs who also chomp a few of the movie characters. Thankfully, these instances are brief and not particularly graphic or bloody.

The Computer Generated Imagery of the dinosaurs, for the most part, is integrated well with the actors. There are some instances where it is not seamless.

The biggest problem with “Jurassic World: Rebirth” is its pacing. The action scenes, at times, seem inordinately drawn-out. The character development scenes are too brief. We don’t get to know the back stories of the expedition team. The scenes of the family, which are the film’s supporting actors, are better-written and more relatable.

The screenplay is by David Koepp (screenwriter, “Jurassic Park,” “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” 1997, based on the Michael Crichton novels, “Jurassic Park,” 1990, and “The Lost World,” 1995).

The director is Gareth Edwards (director: “The Creator,” 2023; “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, 2016; “Godzilla,” 2014).

Cinematographer John Mathieson (two-time Oscar nominee, cinematography, “The Phantom of the Opera,” 2005; “Gladiator,” 2001) recreates the look of the original “Jurassic Park,” utilizing 35mm film.

The score is by Alexandre Desplat (two-time Oscar winner, original score, “The Shape of Water,” 2018; “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” 2015) is intense and incorporates the “Jurassic Park” theme by John Williams.

Scarlett Johansson (two-time Oscar nominee, actress, “Marriage Story,” 2020; supporting actress, “Jojo Rabbit,” 2020) is one of the main reasons to see the film. She is excellent in the role. She creates a strong action character who is often humorous because of her droll line delivery.

Jonathan Bailey (“Wicked,” 2024) plays the stereotypical role of a nerdy scientist. Bailey and Johansson lack chemistry in their scenes, which seems to be intentional. Bailey has more chemistry with the wintergreen Altoids he crunches.

Mahershala Ali (two-time Oscar winner, supporting actor, “Green Book,” 2019; supporting actor, “Moonlight,” 2017) is solid in his role. However, the character is underwritten. This was a missed opportunity by the screenwriter.

“Jurassic World: Rebirth” will be enjoyed by fans of the “Jurassic” franchise movies, fans of Scarlett Johansson and fans of the mythological world of dinosaurs.

“Jurassic World: Rebirth,” MPAA rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned: Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13) for intense sequences of violence-action, bloody images, some suggestive references, language and a drug reference; Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure Thriller; Run time: 2 hours, 13 minutes. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Jurassic World: Rebirth” was filmed June to September 2024 in Thailand, Malta; Sky Studios Elstree, United Kingdom, and New York City.

At The Movies: “Jurassic World: Rebirth” was seen in the Dolby Theatre at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, July 18 - 20: “Superman” stayed at No. 1 for a second straight week with $57.2 million in 4,275 theaters, $235 million, two weeks.

2. “Jurassic World: Rebirth” stayed in place, $23.4 million in 3,854 theaters, $276.1 million, two weeks. 3. “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” $13 million in 3,206 theaters, opening. 4. “Smurfs, $11 million in 3,504 theaters, opening. 5. “F1: The Movie,” dropped two places, $9.6 million in 3,094 theaters, $153.6 million, four weeks. 6. “How to Train Your Dragon” dropped two places, $5.3 million in 2,835 theaters, $250.7 million, six weeks. 7. “Eddington,” a COVID- times comedy set in New Mexico starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone and Pedro Pascal and directed by Ari Aster, $4.2 million in 2,111 theaters, opening. 8. “Elio” dropped three places, $2 million in 2,035 theaters, $68.9 million, five weeks. 9. “Lilo & Stich” dropped two places, $1.5 million in 1,325 theaters, $418.1 million, nine weeks. 10. “28 Years Later” dropped four places, $1.3 million in 1,219 theaters, $68.7 million, five weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of July 20 is subject to change.

Unreel, July 25:

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” PG-13. Matt Shakman directs Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn in the Science-Fiction Action film. The Fantastic Four defend Earth from Galactus.

“Oh, Hi!,” R: Sophie Brooks directs Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman in the comedy. A romantic weekend goes awry.

“The Home,” R: James DeMonaco directs Pete Davidson and John Glover in the Horror Thriller. A worker at a retirement home finds sinister secrets there.

Movie box office information from Internet Movie Database as of July 20 is subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes