Hollywood Actually Made a Movie Americans Will Love

Liberty Check

• Classic action-thriller delivers pure entertainment without woke preaching or political agendas
• Traditional family values shine through as parents protect their children against impossible odds
• Refreshing throwback to when Hollywood made movies for everyday Americans instead of coastal elites

Anne Hathaway’s latest film proves Hollywood can still deliver when it stops lecturing audiences and focuses on pure entertainment. Following her roles in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” the indie film “Mother Mary,” and Christopher Nolan’s epic “The Odyssey,” the Oscar winner now stars in “The End of Oak Street” — a surprisingly fun action-thriller that feels like a breath of fresh air.

Hathaway and Ewan McGregor play Denise and Greg Platt, a married couple raising two teenage children, Audrey and Brian (Maisy Stella and Christian Convery), in their picture-perfect neighborhood on Oak Street in Summer 1982. The family dynamic centers on traditional values and parental protection — a refreshing change from Hollywood’s typical family portrayals.

One night, a mysterious light floods their home. They wake up without power, running water, or any radio stations. When Denise and Greg venture outside, they discover something unbelievable — dinosaurs everywhere.

Their entire neighborhood has been transported to a prehistoric era where the end of the street literally drops off a giant cliff with jungles overtaking people’s backyards. The Platts must fight to survive and find a way back home — if there even is a way back.

Writer-director David Robert Mitchell clearly pitched “Jurassic Park” set in suburbia. The premise is completely inexplicable, but that’s OK. Mitchell’s strong execution on a pure entertainment level means audiences don’t need a logical explanation — they just need to buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Mitchell, known for his 2014 horror hit “It Follows,” knows how to build suspense and craft fun action sequences. He’s supported by cinematographer Mike Gioulakis, editor John Axelrad, and Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino, who delivers another magnificent score.

Producer J.J. Abrams — the mind behind “LOST,” the “Cloverfield” trilogy, and recent “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” films — brings his sci-fi expertise to this action thriller. His touch is evident throughout.

Hathaway hits her stride here, arguably more than in any other role this year, playing the no-nonsense matriarch protecting her family. McGregor brings levity as the optimistic father. But all four family members, including Stella and Convery, take turns fighting off terrifying dinosaurs in sequences that will have audiences on the edge of their seats.

“The End of Oak Street” is a fun, crowd-pleasing wild ride full of laughs and suspense that feels like a throwback to the kinds of movies Hollywood used to make — before they became obsessed with pushing political messages. It’s pure entertainment for families, focused on survival, courage, and sticking together when times get tough.

If you’re looking for one more movie to see with the family before the kids go back to school, this is it. No lectures, no agendas — just good old-fashioned American entertainment.

“The End of Oak Street” is rated PG-13 for some strong violent content, bloody images, some strong language and suggestive material. Running time: 1 hour, 39 minutes. In theaters now.

Americans deserve better.