So there’s really not much take home here other than a few stray moments of elastic levity. It certainly appears from the lack of surprises here, that this franchise has outlived its fly-by date!

The film has a brisk pace, but the story is pretty much well-trodden and playing to type. Also the plotline goes beserk trying to invent an adventure that might not seem all that plausible or affecting. If you are a dog lover, you will love this all the way through. If you are a pet lover (and I mean a generic one) you will find this a harmless entertainer but if you hate pets or are allergic to them, then you might not be wholeheartedly impressed by their shenanigans on screen. And that’s the way this cookie crumbles.

In terms of visual effects this film is quite impressive but as a crusty, involving adventure, it falls short!

The problem with the film is that its intent is far more academic than cinematic. So the involvement of the audience is largely cerebral (and that too only if you are a history buff) rather than emotional. At the end of this experience you are likely to feel more beleaguered than entertained.

‘Resurgence’ is surely attempting to do a ‘Jurassic World’ for the franchise but this Roland Emmerich helmed sequel appears to have delayed it’s coming by a good ten years. The current generation has already seen countless repeat and reprise efforts from contemporary spectacle specialists so this one doesn’t quite have the blistering genre redefining power that the original did. The irreverence involved in the monument trashing on display here makes it all seem quite ridiculous, fanciful and tends towards tedium. To the extent that even a short 120 minute runtime begins to feel a little long in the tooth!

This is a wholesome film, that’s entertaining even while it sends out a message of love and understanding for all such differently-abled entities in the world. Such old fashioned values need to be given such frequent spring-boards if the world has to becomes a more equitable and fair living space!

It’s the premeditated glossed out treatment that really hurts here. Director Thea Sharrock’s helming is not a smoothly coordinated one. The lack of grittiness and honesty in the telling is also a drawback.

The writing may not be entirely up to the mark but the actors more than make up for the deficit. Crowe, Gosling and Angourie Rice make the ensuing mayhem look entertaining enough. Despite Shane Black’s penchant for the absurd, it’s still very much a joy ride!

The plot is totally outlandish. Quite unbelievable really but then what would you expect in a scenario where turtles are ninjas and go about defending the city and it’s people with a speed and alacrity uncommon to their genre type. So the implausibility in such shows of valor is a given. It’s the lack of wit that is hard to overlook. The sci-fi action is sumptuous but not out of the ordinary. Everything seems like it’s been done before.

This film is a psychological exploration about morality and it’s implications on the strictly religious conservative mindset while bringing into play questions of hurt male pride and manhood. And of course the marriage could well be at stake here. Performances are first rate, camera work is enlightening and direction is masterly. Farhadi may not have set the narrative on fire with obvious dramatic thrusts but the subtler flurries of subtext within allows for a lot more rumination and thought. So there’s reason enough to watch this film for sure!