A suburban neighborhood goes prehistoric in 'The End of Oak Street'

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.

By Michael Guillory, Special to The Star

There have been seven “Jurassic Park” films released with four of them coming out in the last ten years. The franchise has dominated the popular depiction of dinosaurs until now.

“The End of Oak Street” is David Robert Mitchell’s fresh take on the dinosaur-centered action film.

The film takes place in 1982 and focuses on the Platt family.

Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway plays Denise, who is married to Greg, played by Ewan McGregor. The couple are parents to Brian (Christian Convery) and Audrey (Maisy Stella).

The family leads seemingly normal suburban life, complete with their dog, Starbuck. However, beneath the surface, there seems to be problems.

Denise is embarrassed of Greg’s work as a delivery driver. Brian is being hunted by a neighborhood bully. Audrey is socially awkward around her peers.

And just like that, those normal suburban problems are exponentially worsened when the family finds itself surrounded by prehistoric flora and fauna.

There are no genetically recreated dinosaurs in this film. The Platts’ neighborhood is completely transported to another time, and they must find a way back to 1982 while avoiding becoming a dinosaur’s snack.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.

“The End of Oak Street” is a PG-13 film that does not take itself too seriously. Thrilling chase and attack scenes are balanced with moments of silliness.

There is one scene, Denise and Greg take a questionable picture in front of mating dinosaurs. The intention is to show that the couple are healing their fractured relationship in the time of crisis. However, there could have been a better way to show it.

The search for Starbuck also serves as a major, yet bewildering driver of the plot. This is confusing because I think most people would choose to lose their pet over risking being eaten by a dinosaur.

The film’s use of digital and special effects is a prominent plus. Rather than regurgitating the way dinosaurs look in other films, Mitchell uses a more accurate depiction of the prehistoric animals. Some of the dinosaurs have feathers and beaklike mouths. This contrasts with the reptilian and monstrous depiction of dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park.”  Additionally, orb like portals play a role in the film. The effects used to show these orbs make them seem real.

Overall, the film is an entertaining story that takes the viewer on a wild ride. Where most people associate dinosaur movies with “Jurassic Park,” this film offers completely different take. It’s setting in suburban America rather than a tropical land, and in the 1980s instead of present day, helps to lead the story into uncharted territory. The addition of time travel and other science fiction elements are also unique to the film.

The film is not likely to earn Anne Hathaway another Academy Award or Ewan McGregor his first. However, for anyone tired of the repetitively used “mad scientist created dinosaurs for capitalism driven reasons” storyline and seeking a unique story with several shocking, funny, and questionable scenes, “The End of Oak Street” is a must watch.