Dial-an-Arc

A little while ago, I caught Jurassic Park III (imagine that claw-slashed typeface there) for the second time. In the theatre, I remember being disappointed-- but it's still a pretty good time. Especially if you have a thing for Sam Neill's "you people are fools" face. And I do.

This time around, a couple of really obvious not-good story points stuck out at me. The first is the annoying case of the character-arc-that-isn't. In this case, I'm talking about the divorced couple working together to find their son, who end up getting back together in the end.

This is the perfect recipe for a strong arc for these two. The couple hate each other, have moved on, don't even understand the other person anymore... but because of their shared love of their only child, they put their petty grievances aside and work together. Through this mutually agreed-upon peace, and through the many dangers they face while on the island, they see each other anew and let the positive memories back in. They realize they still love each other-- or, even better, they fall in love all over again.

Except, you know, none of that happens. Not a bit of it. They work together on the island without a single real moment of tension between them. There's no conflict, no old bitterness... in fact, they seem to quite like each other from the get-go. It's weird-- based on the reunion in the end, the film seems to believe these characters have really changed, and that the reunion is a surprise!

But when they do get together in the end? That silence you heard in the theatre? That was the sound of no one caring.

That's what happens when it all seems too easy.