Old Material, But Not Extinct: ‘The End of Oak Street’ is Solid Fun, if Rough in Places

By Jackson TOYON

Dinosaurs are a simple concept that anyone from toddler age up to elderly adulthood can easily enjoy, whether it’s the wonder of seeing them brought to life alongside modern humans or the thrill of seeing a particular character get chomped in a satisfying manner. From a writing perspective, it’s quite easy to make them delight at a base level – they should never, ever be boring. Most folks tend to wait for a new Jurassic Park film to get their dinosaur fix, but Universal Studios disappointed audiences when their most recent entry, ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth,’ was a rather dull slog that heavily leaned on viewer nostalgia. So, how does Warner Bros.’ new picture fare in that regard?

It is 1982. In the fictional suburb of Flowervale, Michigan there lives an unassuming family named the Platts. Among them are aspiring writer Denise (Anne Hathaway), husband Greg (Ewan McGregor), science nerd daughter Audrey (Maisy Stella), adventurous son Brian (Christian Convery), and loyal cattle dog Starbuck. While their tight-knit neighborhood community is idyllic and comfy, all is not well on the home front. Denise has been feeling trapped for a while now and is considering divorce; the kids can detect the discord even if the parents won’t acknowledge it in front of them. Greg lost his regular job some time ago, is secretly delivering pizzas on the side to support his family and he drinks in private to cope. After a few ominous anomalies that the family tries to ignore, the universe unleashes onto them a most peculiar and dangerous phenomenon. In a storm of wind, light and sound, the lives of the family and everyone they know are changed forever. Quite suddenly, it is no longer 1982 – their home, their street and their entire neighborhood have been moved, transported hundreds of millions of years ago into the past. Prehistoric terrors from outside the suburb begin to make their way in and the dysfunctional family must pull together and bond if they are to survive.

In many ways, this film feels like a relic – the hardest to miss being the dinosaurs. On one hand, it’s the type of blockbuster that, in the past, probably would have absolutely blown up at the box office. It’s the type of movie that used to be rehashed – repeatedly – but unfortunately they don’t entertain as much anymore. On the more positive side, it is apparent that this film was made by people with a deep appreciation for the work of Spielberg – taking clear inspiration and direction from the Amblin-era cul-de-sacs and families of the ‘80s, which end up being the film’s more charming elements. The execution isn’t always perfect but the aesthetic is delightful and far more than just cheap window dressing for nostalgia’s sake.

The film focuses more on successfully accomplishing its thrills than it does explaining the “why” behind its high concept, which might disappoint some but should at the very least make the stewards of the Jurassic Park franchise blush at what they’ve failed to achieve in recent years. Its attempts at themes don’t particularly soar but the family drama happening against a backdrop of Mesozoic danger is compelling and fun to watch. 

Though it feels like Anne Hathaway was cast somewhere below her pay grade, she brings strong depth and believable texture to a role that easily could have been cookie-cutter under the watch of a different actress. Her performance and grit keep the rest of the family afloat, even when her son Brian is busy being the most laughably unskilled archer I’ve seen in a movie in years.

“The End of Oak Street” isn’t always sure of what it wants to be – there are multiple instances of tonal whiplash between the film being a serious drama and having comedic moments that are even downright slapstick at times. And though it’s probably not going to impress the Academy, the film is authentically itself and has plenty to enjoy for most audiences. 

Some moviegoers might hope for something more thematically interesting or intellectually stimulating to spend their hard-earned cash on, but if one is down for a fun summer flick, “The End of Oak Street” is certainly worth a watch.

Rated PG-13.