Dinosaurs, time travel and Anne Hathaway: Is this the summer movie we were waiting for?
Summer is drawing to a close, and movie theaters are offering their final seasonal releases. Among them is "End of Oak Street," a sci-fi horror film by director David Robert Mitchell, which attempts to brighten up the August heat with a story about a family suddenly transported to the Jurassic period.
Summer is almost over in terms of movie offerings. After we've gone through Marvel's "Spider-Man," DC's "Supergirl," and "The Odyssey," along with many other notable films, there isn't much left for those looking to hit the nearest cinema. Just now, "End of Oak Street" is landing on the big screen—a science fiction adventure film with a touch of horror from director David Robert Mitchell, attempting to provide a little more entertainment for movie lovers in the August heat.
At the center of the story is a family of four. The mother, Denise (Anne Hathaway), and the father, Greg (Ewan McGregor), are experiencing a relationship crisis, while their children, Brian and Audrey, deal with social difficulties. One evening, in a flash of bright light, their entire neighborhood is instantly transported back in time to the Jurassic period, filled with monstrous and dangerous dinosaurs. Now, the family must overcome their differences and unite to find the strength to survive the time-travel catastrophe they have fallen into.
The film rests on the shoulders of this family, and they do a good enough job—but only good enough. Their struggles evoke empathy, and the characters are likable, yet beyond that, there isn't much innovation. As the film progresses, it is mostly predictable at best and laughably formulaic at worst.
The plot takes place in the eighties, winking at beloved films of that era in the style of "Stranger Things" or "Super 8" (produced by J.J. Abrams). For fans of this aesthetic, it adds a nice atmosphere, and the absence of mobile phones and the internet helps make the events feel slightly more grounded. Perhaps the biggest flaw is the handling of the time-travel concept, which feels amateurish and lazy.
One credit to the film is the design of the dinosaurs, which look slightly different from the familiar images in films like "Jurassic Park." Some of the prehistoric lizards even have feathers, which adds a bit of interest. The tension and action scenes are generally well-executed, though they lack the breathtaking intensity found in the "Mission: Impossible" series.
Ultimately, it is a pleasant film that manages to keep interest until the end, but it is not a must-see. Those who skip it won't miss much, and for those who watch it in the cinema or at home, it offers an hour and forty minutes of decent time, though not something that will stay with them long after the credits roll.
Rating: 3 out of 5
