Why Jurassic World Rebirth’s cute dinosaur Dolores is the worst

It’s not surprising that every big-budget blockbuster strives to create a buzzworthy moment that outshines their marketing expenses. This could involve replicating a scene similar to the iconic Barbenheimer, leveraging the social media popularity of M3GAN for the sequel, or in the case of Jurassic World Rebirth, introducing an endearing new dinosaur with its own promotional campaign.

Dolores is a petite herbivore, more precisely known as an Aquilops. This unique creature was found by Isabella Delgado after she was shipwrecked on Ile Saint-Hubert, a place that houses InGen’s laboratory where they conducted experiments with genetically altered dinosaurs. Alongside Isabella were her father, elder sister Teresa, and Teresa’s boyfriend, Xavier.

In the course of events, Dolores swiftly joins the journey, initially drawn in by red licorice and M&Ms. However, it doesn’t take long before she no longer requires treats, instead snuggling up in Isabella’s backpack for a comfortable ride. This turns out to be a source of comfort for the frightened young girl, and something that younger viewers can find adorable.

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However, this character seems more artificial or unnatural compared to the genetically altered dinosaors that the Delgado family come across on the island, who are themselves less organic than regular dinosaurs.

The character appears less natural or lifelike than the genetically modified dinosaurs that the Delgado family meet on the island, with these dinosaurs even seeming less organic compared to their non-altered counterparts.

It appears the small size and cute characteristics of the new creature, reminiscent of popular mascots like Baby Yoda from Disney and Baby Groot from Marvel, give off a strong impression that it’s merely designed to generate revenue. However, Amblin’s latest creation does not use the overused ‘baby’ label often associated with these cutesy characters nowadays.

As a devoted fan, I can appreciate why they added the adorable Aquilops to the film. Although some of us Jurassic Park enthusiasts might yearn for the franchise to ramp up the gore, it’s crucial that it doesn’t lose its young dinosaur fans by veering too far from its family-friendly roots.

Dolores isn’t the first harmless-looking dinosaur that visitors later find themselves needing to avoid; in Spielberg’s original movie, John Hammond presents Alan and Ellie with a newly-hatched raptor, gazing at them lovingly as if it were their newborn baby instead of a fearsome prehistoric beast.

After that, the center of attention for the franchise has shifted towards new, endearing creatures to admire. Occasionally it’s Blue, the raptor trained by Owen, who transitions from affectionate pet to fierce guard dog. On other occasions, it’s a lesser character like Stiggy, the young Stygimoloch, who helps Owen and Claire escape a cell in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, only to stumble around confused for a while afterwards.

The primary challenge with Dolores stems from her role within the franchise. Unlike other dinosaur companions, she doesn’t serve any purpose beyond providing emotional support. Her most valuable trait is screeching at monstrous creatures and fleeing in opposite directions, which might resonate with some viewers, but it’s not particularly useful.

In the movie “Jurassic World Rebirth,” there’s a scene where it appears as though Dolores’ role might finally be unveiled. This is because no grown character can pass through a gate from the other side to open it. Since a small dinosaur could do the job, one would expect that to happen. However, the gate needs to be manipulated with a lever, and it’s Isabella who bravely steps up to operate it, thereby rescuing everyone in the process.

If Dolores had a unique character, this could still work, but since she’s primarily noted for being portable and aesthetically pleasing, there isn’t much else that sets her apart. Compared to her beloved relatives, she can’t aspire to the same level of internet popularity.

Dolores is only known for being portable and easy on the eyes, and she doesn’t have a unique character like some other models do. She can’t expect the same online attention as those more distinctive family members.

Baby Yoda gained immense popularity on the internet due to its appearance resembling an elderly figure in a small body. Many people online find themselves caught between being too young to handle adult responsibilities and too old to identify as a child. Therefore, the appeal of this wrinkled infant seems fitting because it resonates with their experiences.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but notice that Amblin might have been aiming for viral success similar to Disney, appealing to both child and adult fans. However, after six years, it seems the strings of these franchises are becoming more apparent. Dolores, unfortunately, lacks the charm, humor, or relatability that could make us overlook her as a marketing ploy. Instead, she feels overly manipulative, like an overly sweet puppet.

It’s clear that Dolores will create a remarkable toy due to her ability to be reproduced effortlessly and the fact that she lacks a soul, but it’s also worth noting that she is just as much an accessory, in a sense, as Jonathan Bailey’s stylish glasses.

Jurassic World Rebirth is out now in cinemas.

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2025-07-03 14:19