Jurassic World Rebirth (in theaters July 2) surprised me in the best way. The film has Steven Spielberg written all over it, which makes sense considering he as an executive producer. You can feel his influence in this film in a major way from the fun callbacks to the original Jurassic Park films, and that familiar sense of wonder is definitely there. It’s nostalgic, magical, and just a fun ride.

This time around, Rebirth takes us into a world where dinosaurs are no longer confined to islands but they are apart of our everyday reality. The story follows a group of scientists and wildlife experts, played by Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, who are racing to contain a new genetic threat that could destroy the delicate balance between humans and dinosaurs. There’s action, chaos, and of course, plenty of moments where the dinosaurs steal the show.

Scarlett and Mahershala are dynamic on the screen and honestly anything Mahershala is in has got my boar. however Jonathan Bailey was the standout for me. His character, a museum worker and dinosaur advocate brings so much warmth and humor, I really enjoyed every scene he was in and you’re rooting for him every step of the way. And honestly? The Summer I Turned Pretty star David Iacono deserves his own shoutout. He plays the kind of annoying douchy boyfriend character that ends up being hilarious, and also was another standout in the film for me.

Visually, the film is stunning. The cinematography especially towards the end of the film is absolutely beautiful and feels like such a love letter to the originals. And the pacing? You’re locked in for the full two hours. It’s non-stop action and there’s no point where you feel like you can look away.

Now, I have to mention, classic movie magic strikes again. Manuel Garcia-Rulf plays Reuben a father who takes his two daughters and begrudgingly his daughter’s boyfriend sailing across the sea even though there’s a giant Mosasaurus that owns the waters. Well in our journey, injures his leg trying to save his youngest daughter, but somehow he can sprint full speed when the moment calls for it, and then go back to limping. A small continuity issue that slightly annoyed me, but it didn’t take me out of the experience.

I did find myself wondering why we’re still calling it Jurassic World instead of going back to Jurassic Park, but at the end of the day, that’s minor too. What matters is that Jurassic World Rebirth brings the action, the heart, and that classic dinosaur magic we love. It’s a fun, exciting chapter that’s worth seeing on the big screen.

Pros: Action packed, nostalgia, and nicely paced

Cons: Small continuity issues