In a future in which dinosaurs and humans were believed to be able to coexist but now faces climate change and mass disease outbreaks that threaten society, the Earth has now proven nearly inhospitable for dinosaurs, who have now retreated to an island. Now, a team of mercenaries and scientists embark on an expedition to retrieve DNA samples from three massive dino species that may prove to hold the key to humanity’s survival.

The Jurassic franchise began in 1993 with what’s still considered to be one of the greatest and most iconic movies ever made. Today, it continues to prove that its run its course and serves no purpose besides Universal’s cash cow. Only three years after Jurassic World Dominion supposedly marked the end of the franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth attempts to mark a new era for these films with a new age of global human-dino dynamics, and a new group of characters. Instead of utilizing this fresh start potential to breathe new light or direction, Rebirth is exactly what I feared — an unnecessary piece of nonsense that recycles the same tropes and quickly gets exhausting to watch. The characters are wooden and we aren’t given much material in order to understand or interact with them. Mahershala Ali is the definitive standout, always giving a lot of heart and likability to his role. However, a family that becomes a major subplot in the film takes up way too much screen time, and their appearances become more and more useless and frustrating the more we cut back to them.

In addition to its lack of effort in actually investing us in its characters, the concept as a whole works les when the film feels this rushed. So much has changed since the last film that it’s become a nearly pre-apocalyptic world, but a larger gap in time between releases and chronologically within the time of the franchise would’ve helped this make more sense. The dialogue also preaches much of its themes and directions instead of allowing the audience to learn or take much in visually. Besides a fun action scene set at sea, much of the action feels incredibly derivative and uninspired. There’s a serious lack of stakes and excitement, even if we’re told that the greater fate of humanity is at stake. The danger just doesn’t feel as thrilling because the film doesn’t set up its location or objectives with much clarity or heft.

Jurassic World Rebirth uses many of the same character archetypes and broader themes we’re used to from these films, while misses any real soul or thrills, or even any sense for that matter. It’s a tired return to a series that’s out of ideas and out of steam, and we’re left wondering what much of it really achieved, besides sticking the word Jurassic onto another film title and hoping crowds show up. Rebirth is concrete proof that it’s time to let the dinosaurs rest for a while longer, not just in reality, but on our big screens, too.