David Opie on Jurassic World… NB: If you’re one of the three people who hasn’t seen the film yet, be careful. The following article contains numerous spoilers…
Is Jurassic World really a man’s world?
The internet sure seems to think so. Critics have hurled T-Rex sized chunks of abuse Colin Trevorrow’s way for the portrayal of women in his blockbuster smash, focusing on one particular character’s unusual choice of footwear…
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Let’s face it. High heels aren’t ideal when being chased down by swarms of pterosaurs or any prehistoric killing machine for that matter, but did Claire Dearing choose to put those cumbersome shoes on once shit hit the fan? Did she stroll up to her shoe rack and select white pumps over more practical footwear? Certainly not and yet Dearing powered through the dino-themed insanity around her, despite all this.
Yes, Dearing could have simply taken off her heels, but would running around barefoot have helped Bryce Dallas Howard’s character survive the chaos and protect her nephews? Probably not. Howard herself told reporters at the film’s premiere that wearing heels is “way better than running barefoot in a jungle,” and it’s hard to argue with that logic. Frankly, a splinter or stubbed toe is the last thing one wants when their place of work is overrun by carnivorous dinosaurs. Trust me.
Besides, heels are a perfectly valid footwear option for a businesswoman. Dearing holds a position of power in Jurassic World, overseeing day-to-day operations of the popular theme park, yet rather than celebrate her female authority, critics are quick to blame Howard’s character for the events that lead to the parks destruction.
However, these same critics often neglect to mention that the man officially in charge is most memorable for crashing his helicopter and that the power-mad head of security fails to take over the park before being devoured by a velociraptor… who just so happens to be female. And she’s not the only one!
The Indominus Rex that kicked everything off in the first place is a feminine force of nature, tricking both Dearing and Owen Grady into helping her escape her confines before slaughtering half of the parks residents. Dearing’s actions prior to this certainly didn’t help matters, but it’s worth remembering that she’s hardly the only one responsible for the chaos that ensued and ultimately, Dearing even manages to save the day… all while wearing kick-ass heels!
Whether this is realistic or not is irrelevant, we’re talking cuttlefish dinosaur hybrids here people, the shot of Dearing leading the T-Rex in her pumps is uniquely feminine and just as brave as anything Grady does, perhaps even more so when you consider their different backgrounds. It’s not too surprising to see an ex-Navy man wield a gun and save the day, but an uptight businesswoman whose probably never even held a weapon before? Now that’s impressive.
Disappointingly though, Dearing’s brave stance is undermined somewhat by the kiss she shares with Grady. Women don’t have to be asexual to command power, but the sloppy smooching occurs immediately after a scene where Dearing has just proved to both her nephews and the audience that the macho action hero isn’t the only capable adult in this picture. Feminist critics have been quick to point out that Dearing’s acceptance of Grady’s romantic advances draws the attention directly back to him and helps reassert his power…because being a strong female figure means you’re not allowed to fall in love or have children, right? Right!?
Dearing’s moments of strength are important, but admittedly, they don’t mean that Jurassic World can suddenly be heralded as a masterpiece of progressive feminism either. Aside from Dearing, the few female characters on show either burst into tears every time the wind changes direction or are defined solely by their occupation. Much has also been made of the horrendously violent way in which the personal assistant/babysitter is killed off, especially when compared to the male deaths that occur mostly offscreen.
Jurassic World is hardly the Thelma & Louise of sci-fi blockbusters, but rather than focus on the film’s moments of misogyny or even Dearing’s impractical footwear, fans should consider celebrating the movie’s more progressive scenes. Who makes the transition from uptight corporate businesswoman to gun-wielding badass? Who puts Grady down after he makes inappropriate remarks at his trailer? And who saves the cowering boys from the Indominus Rex at the end of the film? Bryce fricking Dallas Howard, that’s who.
Could our red-headed hero take out Mad Max’s Furiosa in a fair fight? Probably not, but Dearing proves that Theron’s progressive heroine isn’t the only woman who’s capable of holding her own in 2015’s biggest blockbusters. Now that sequels have been confirmed for both Jurassic World and Mad Max: Fury Road, it’s only a matter of time before the pair are thrown into a post-apocalyptic wasteland overrun by evil warlords riding dinosaurs into battle… this stuff literally writes itself!
Both Furiosa and Dearing mark an exciting new cinematic trend of women who have learned to take control and beat the odds without the help of a man or even sensible footwear for that matter. Sure, they’ve taken their sweet time getting here, but now audiences have had a taste of seeing powerful women on the big screen, male action heroes better start watching their backs or they’re going to get their asses kicked, leaving a distinct stiletto shaped mark on their rear ends.
David Opie
https://youtu.be/IWWtOQOZSTI?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
