★★½
What’s extra exhilarating than one Megalodon? Extra Megalodons! The Meg 2: The Trench brings the prehistoric sharks to the large display. Directed by Ben Wheatley (Kill Checklist) and written by the workforce of Jon Hoeber (Battleship), Erich Hoeber (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts), and Dean Georgaris (The Manchurian Candidate), Meg 2 stars Jason Statham (Quick X), Jing Wu (The Wandering Earth II), Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Manner of Water), Shuya Sophia Cai (Meg), Web page Kennedy (Meg), Melissanthi Mahut (The Different Me), Sergio Peris-Mencheta (Rambo: Final Blood), and Sienna Guillory (Clifford the Large Crimson Canine).
On this sequel, a analysis workforce led by the genius and free-spirited Jiuming (Jing), encounters a number of threats from a number of colossal sharks, a mining operation, mercenaries, and different issues which have swum up from the seafloor. Usher in Jonas (Statham), a rescue diver and giant-shark-punching extraordinaire, to get everybody out of hassle. After all, he’s by no means needed to face a number of Megs without delay. To not point out, different creatures which have crawled out from the outlet created by malicious miners. Will he have the ability to rescue his mates, play father determine to Meiying (Cai), and strut away with no scratch on him?
The issue with sequels to a reasonably revolutionary film is typically folks suppose the one approach they’ll high it, is to make it greater. Convey extra. However, as seen in Meg 2, that will simply muddy the waters. Meg’s reply to upping the ante is so as to add in additional sharks, however this has been carried out earlier than—as have a lot of the twists and turns within the film.
Unlawful mining operation? Executed in Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus. Sharks surrounding underwater services? Deep Blue Sea. Sharks having their fill at a seashore resort smorgasbord? The Requin. Whereas it is just a contact distinctive to carry all of this stuff collectively, it does little to the already skinny plot and steers the viewers’s jet ski away from the truth that it’s presupposed to be a film about sharks. What ought to be a person vs nature story, turns into a person vs man story. There are various simple methods the writers may have made the plot deeper and richer, however that begs the query: is that what the franchise wants?
Jason Statham’s Jonas is a powerhouse. The trailer alone has him kicking a Meg within the face, driving a jet ski like a bat out of hell, and strolling alongside the ocean flooring like he’s taking a morning stroll. That’s nothing in comparison with all the ridiculous, physics-defying motion scenes within the film. In the meantime, DJ (Kennedy) is a superb break from the overpowered Jonas. He’s endearing, interjects with simply the correct quantity of snark, says precisely what the viewers is pondering, and is simple to root for. Each Meiying and her uncle Jiuming are additionally simple to cheer on. They’re impulsive to the purpose of recklessness, however the viewers nonetheless hopes they arrive out unscathed.
There isn’t a character growth in sight, the plot is skinny, the motion is ridiculous, and lots of the scenes are cliché. That being mentioned, as soon as the motion will get began, it by no means lets up. The principle characters are charming and lovable. The writers play quick and free with the legal guidelines of each physics and biology however in a glib method. Adrenaline junkies and Statham followers will discover Meg 2: The Trench value their time.
Don’t go into this continuous thrill trip on the lookout for Oscar-worthy performances and plot. If viewers curb their expectations, this film will satiate these anticipations, and will even exceed some. Whereas it’s not needed to look at it within the theater, followers of the primary film, motion flicks, and of shark-ploitative motion pictures generally will love the immersive expertise. Simply attempt to not suppose too exhausting about what’s occurring on the display when sitting behind a Megalodon-sized bowl of popcorn.
