Embedded Files
Published on 8/20/2026
Written by: Braylon Mitchell
Directed by: David Robert Mitchell
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, Christian Convery, Jordan Alexa Davis, etc.
Plot: The Platt family bands together to navigate their new surroundings after a cosmic event transports their suburban neighborhood to someplace unknown.
REVIEW
In several reactions to this film that I've read, it's being described as Amblin-akin and Spielbergian in its entertainment value as a film for all ages. As a critic, I hate to follow the beaten path, but I can't help but agree with that sentiment as the key takeaway and selling point of this film. This is an action, sci-fi, dinosaur film centered around a family having issues in a suburban setting that is baked with a brand of wide-eyed, borderline silly sense of nostalgia for blockbuster stories and filmmaking of the past. It feels like the type of original blockbuster that belongs to the 90s or 2000s, and that's a big compliment. Even a bad, poorly written original blockbuster from those eras still manages to have a certain novelty when watched nowadays. Something always stays the same, but for the most part Hollywood changes—it's good to know that every so often a major studio can produce an original blockbuster that may not be anything great or revolutionary, but is just fun and the right amount of kind of stupid. I love it when a film can be a little silly. I commend this film for being as upfront and blunt as it is with all of its cosmic portal plot devices, dinosaur thrills, and purposefully poor decisions made by characters for the sake of moving the plot forward. For as much as the plot and characters can get quite messy, even distractingly so, I give the film points for not caring that its premise is stupid. Stupid in a good way, mind you. Combatting that silliness is some smart, keen cinematic direction from David Robert Mitchell, making for an interesting balance. A film student could watch this film and goggle at the creative cinematic techniques and craft, and someone without an ounce of knowledge about filmmaking outside of " the actor is in front of camera" could have just as much fun. This is a flawed film, I can't say it's one of the year's better films or one that'll stick with me that much, but it's certainly a buttery tub of fun to watch.
THREE BEST ELEMENTS
Anne Hathaway's performance. One of the biggest stories of 2026 in film has been Anne Hathaway's success this year, starring in five films ("Mother Mary", "The Devil Wears Prada 2", "The Odyssey", "Verity", and "The End of Oak Street"). One of which, she's in a strong position to possibly win a second Academy Award for. In this film, she turns in another great performance. She's a commanding lead presence and sells the emotional angle of her character. Hathaway has been a wonderful actress for many years, and especially after her Oscar win for "Les Miserables" in the early 2010s it felt as if her popularity peaked—it's very nice to know that's not true, in 2026 she's been as strong as she's ever been as a performer.
The cinematography. Some very creative, dynamic cinematography in this film. There's an entire scene shot between three or four intercutting split diopeter shots. You don't see that every day.
Michael Giacchino's score. Coming from one of the very best working composers in Hollywood, this film's score is a delight. It sounds like Giacchino tapping into the well of large-scale orchestral composition and melody of scores he'd write for a Disney or Pixar film.
WORST ELEMENT
The screenplay. A lot of the dialogue feels obvious and stale, the narrative gets lost in its constant need to move forward in ways that seemingly can't help but feeling messy, and the ending is surprising in a way that left me a tad taste of disappointment in my mouth.
RATING
6/10
It's a fun time at the movies, buddy!
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