A picturesque neighborhood is transported to the prehistoric age and must fight for survival against dinosaurs. Starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, The End of Oak Street is like Jurassic Park in the suburbs: ferocious, fun, and a lovely callback to classic sci-fi adventure films.
Set in the 80s, The End of Oak Street draws you in with a familiar feeling of a beloved Steven Spielberg classic, a bit of the aforementioned dino flick, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. There’s no ignoring the impact those films had, and it feels like a lovely homage while still standing on its own. And I loved how the film nails the essence of the decade without ever feeling like a cheap imitation.
And it’s not just visually that the film taps into those iconic films, but also in its incredible score. Beautifully composed by Michael Giacchino, who’s fresh off another huge release, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It immediately transports you back to that same feeling when a John Williams score welled up in a film and enveloped you in wonder.
But beyond its score, the film is just a delightfully fun and ridiculous ride. It playfully teases the reveal of the dinosaurs, just giving you glimpses that help build up a nice bit of tension. Which, surprisingly, eventually takes quite a brutal turn at times.
Director David Robert Mitchell was not holding back the carnage, which isn’t surprising when you discover he’s the man behind It Follows. But Oak Street doesn’t fully step into the realm of horror, but it can be quite unexpected with some characters’ fates, leaning into a bit of dark humor. Which, if you can’t tell… I freaking loved. And it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.
But I would say overall this film keeps a very lighthearted tone; again, it’s very playful and a lot funnier than I was expecting. There are a lot of crowd-pleasing jokes; quippy zingers delivered with such precision. But there’s also great physicality in the performances, and even subtle humor that makes the entire movie an absolute blast. Mitchell really knows how to balance everything so well.
And it feels like the cast is really having a lot of fun. Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor are delightful in this, and their performances really lean into the absurdity of it all in the best way. And I loved the dynamic with the kids, played by Christian Convery and Maisy Stella.
This core four feel like a real family, and you can’t help but root for them despite their flaws or stupid decisions. And it’s through this family that the film injects emotion into the story in between dino hijinks. Again, something that caught me off guard in a great way.
The End of Oak Street has great surprises in store for audiences. It subverted so many of my expectations, delivering a thrilling experience that knows exactly what it is. It has a great cast of characters that you can latch onto, and I haven’t even touched on the adorable dog named Starbuck who absolutely steals the show. It has that summer blockbuster feeling but with so much heart and delightful chaos. It’s a real dino-mite time.
The End of Oak Street is in theaters August 14
Jordy Reviews It 
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