Jaws is the most effective shark film ever made, and nothing will ever change that. Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster is the right mix of motion, suspense, and horror. It’s additionally probably the most necessary movies within the historical past of cinema that endlessly modified the film enterprise. Due to that, it’s actually unimaginable for some different shark film to ever prime it. Even making the try is a mistake. That’s the reason all the greatest shark films on the market attempt to do one thing totally different — like have Jason Statham face down a 75-foot prehistoric monster — which is the case in 2018’s immensely enjoyable The Meg.
This action-thriller directed by Jon Turteltaub (Nationwide Treasure) stars Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor, an extremely proficient rescue diver. Firstly of the film, Jonas resides in isolation after a mission gone mistaken, however when he finds out that his ex-wife is caught in an underwater lab within the Mariana Trench — the deepest underwater space on this planet — he comes out of retirement to avoid wasting her. He succeeds, however the rescue releases a megalodon, a large species of shark regarded as extinct, into the open ocean. Now, Jonas and the crew of the Mana One analysis facility should seek out the killer creature.
In contrast to extra critical shark films that typically try to compete with Jaws by making the shark extra lethal or scarier than Spielberg’s depiction, The Meg works so effectively as a result of it embraces the over-the-top ridiculousness of its core gimmick. The shark itself is 75 toes lengthy — roughly thrice the scale of the nice white from Jaws. However reasonably than attempting to one-up (or three-up?) the inimitable depth of Jaws, The Meg tries to seize the identical thrill of a enjoyable curler coaster experience. The shark claims a cartoonish variety of victims whereas Jason Statham and the Mana One crew attempt methodology after methodology to take down the behemoth. In a approach, The Meg performs virtually like a slight parody of Jaws reasonably than a competitor. It’s ridiculous however takes itself significantly sufficient that it doesn’t really feel as gonzo as one thing like Sharknado.
(I do know some individuals dig the Sharknado films, however they’re simply too tacky for me, whereas The Meg performs extra like a lightweight motion film.)
It helps that The Meg stars Jason Statham, who not solely has the motion film chops for this type of position, however he’s additionally an adept comedic actor too. A few of Statham’s earliest films have been the Man Ritchie motion comedies Lock, Inventory and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Whereas he’s not as humorous in The Meg as he’s in these films, he does appear to be enjoying a heightened model of his motion film persona. Statham typically performs intense, steely-eyed dudes who drive quick and punch exhausting, however in The Meg, Statham holds these stares only a second longer than ordinary, and his character is much more unflappable. It is an extremely delicate distinction, however it’s as if Jason Statham has an inner dial for the way a lot “Stathamocity” a film wants. Right here, he knew — or at the very least Turteltaub did — that Statham wanted to crank it barely as much as match the over-the-top tone.
Statham knew precisely what he was doing, and he’s typically referred to The Meg as a enjoyable popcorn film, which is exactly what it’s. It is a informal watch that’s relentlessly enjoyable. And should you watch it and end up wanting extra — which you very seemingly will — the sequel to The Meg, Meg 2: The Trench, can also be on HBO Max. Should you assume The Meg performs like an outrageous tackle Jaws, then know that Meg 2 performs like an much more outrageous tackle The Meg. There are extra megalodons and extra loss of life and much more Stathamocity. They’re an ideal pair of flicks for weekend double options that gained’t make you assume an excessive amount of.
The Meg and Meg 2: The Trench can be found to stream on HBO Max.