CHOMPFEST 2023

Before diving too far into this review of The Meg one needs to swim through the backstory there’s quite a bit to uncover and discover about this film, first it was never intended to be on the same level as Jaws nor does it have the tension building sequences in The Shallows or 47 Meters Down, but rather it was a summer blockbuster flick. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Steve Alten which involves a massive shark on the loose and that led to six literary sequels, however the actual movie is quite different than the original novel, which I’ll note in moment. In addition, it needs to be noted that this novel to film project at one point resembled a beach whale meaning that it was in developmental hell since the late 1990s languishing about with multiple directors coming and going as well as screenwriters then suddenly a tsunami of interest was generated for the film so much that it did wonderfully at the box office earning $529-million worldwide on a budget of $130-million and guaranteed itself a sequel, called Meg 2: The Trench. The movie fits nicely into three subgenres, Action, Horror and Sci-fi, and contains fun for all cinemagoers while there is a true bloodshed aside from the chum The Meg packs a serious chomp into many especially since it was the first film involving this species to attack the big screens and theaters, all the rest were made-for-television to straight to video hell. As for trying to understand the backstory of this picture is a true adventure, noting how many films stars came and went as did the directors writers, while naming them could be very fun, best to focus on the individuals who leant their skills and talents. First, Jon Turteltaub, used is action filming skills from National Treasure (2004) to deliver outrageous sequences balanced with comedic moments and plenty of drama, the horror is naturally incorporated due the shark’s presence and sci-fi for the illogical theories presented as believable facts. Noted earlier author Alten penned the book, but it was screenwriters Jon and Erich Hoeber and Dean Georgaris to package the entire film to the masses.

While there were numerous changes from the novel to film, which often occurs when making movies, a larger explanation or situation is impossible to achieve in the movie than on mere pages. First, in the book the megalodons clarify how the shallow water predator become a deep-water trench dweller, one if you saw the sequel the cycle of life is shown and witness the feeding on a large predator by the coast, secondly their evolution came about by migrating through hydrothermal vents to elude the ice-age over countless decades they slowed the feeding habits, movement and metabolism and lost their skin coloring. In addition, with the megs living in almost sheer darkness it made their eyes hypersensitive to light and hence they hunted at night to mirror the darkness. This posed a problem for the film, namely the CGI, which doesn’t work with the color of ‘solid white’ therefore the sharks needed to have that customary gray and white color which audiences know so well, and able to hunt in any weather, as a illuminant shark cruising the seas at night wouldn’t bring much excitement.

Most know this film very well, as it’s in repeat cycles on many streaming services, and was even covered on this site by reviewer 3C, though I shall take a slightly different angle and not dwelling solely on the scientific improbabilities, rather treating the film as it should be, a fun popcorn munching flick and some critical critiques. Therefore, we have Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham (Ghost of Mars [2001])), appearing on the screen in a full contamination suit, with the cliché reveal of his face, though justified as he’s a professional certified sub rescue diver and finished surveying for possible radiation leaks aboard a nuclear-powered submarine. Once back on his mini sub it is clear something is crushing the hull and he’s unable to save his remaining crew D’Angelo and Marks, and anyone else of the sub, making the toughest choice sacrificing others much to the anger of Heller (Robert Taylor (Rogue [2007])). Jonas claimed it was a Megalodon, though nothing points out or revealed why he believes that – an unimportant tidbit. Afterwards, we advance five years and watch the longest scene of a private helicopter flight time, it’s bizarre and silly, anyway it flies to Mana One, a retired oil rig, which I always chuckled at since it is has a neon side on it – why to advertise the dolphins? Here one meets Daddy Warbucks, the billionaire Morris (Rainn Wilson (Cooties [2014])) who wears the cliché of egomaniac and selfish guru very well as his character treats the crew personnel as his valet, he quickly greets the head of an underwater research facility Dr. Zhang (Winston Chao), and his daughter Bingbing Li (Resident Evil: Retribution [2012])) as Suyin with a brief tour of a most exquisite underwater lab. It’s a hurried journey to the main operations room then a series of introductions Jaxx (Ruby Rose (Resident Evil: The Final Chapter [2012])), a tech genius who is used most at the lab, DJ (Page Kennedy (Meg 2: The Trench [2023])) who doesn’t know how to swim (strange) and a tad unsure of his job function, except he’ll provide the comical relief, then team manager Mac (Cliff Curtis (Deep Rising [1998])) oh one more – Dr. Heller, Hence we know of another cliché, this shall reunite in another conflict soon enough, but before we meet the rest of the research team, Lori (Jessica McNamee (The Loved Ones [2009])), The Wall (Olafur Darri Olafsson) and Toshi (Masi Oka (Death [2017])) preparing to burst through the Marianas Trench an untested theory from Zhang. A side note, why they don’t use an unman probe is foolish, but by now one wants monsters of the deep, the hell with rational thoughts. Quickly they encounter a Megalodon, that wrecks their chances of returning to the surface and are in need of rescue, which means locating and recruiting Jonas, who happens to be nearby in Thailand, fisherman and part-time boozehound. After some brief convincing, namely informing his ex-wife Lori is trapped in a dire situation he agrees. From here, it’s a rollercoaster of action, comedic lines, and more action, with some truly ludicrous situations, actions and sheer delightful turn-off brain’s critical thinking and enjoy the wild antics. There’s one environmental mention, about the cruel killing of sharks for the fins, used as a delicacy the infamous shark fin soup, but it’s almost tossed aside as the meg destroyed one vessel, no more and strangely swims and back and forth across the screen never proceeding anywhere. By the crazy third act, with have the massive Meg swimming to a popular beach filling with bite-size fleshy more seals, thanks to the constant splashing, before too long we have the one English speaking woman who screams “SHARK!”  just like in Jaws [1975]. Then the beasts turn from his buffet to chase down the sound of his favorite meal, which lying in wait is the research team turned shark hunters, who bizarrely bring along 8-year girl (Shuya Sophia), all after they fail to get the authorities to believe them. Oh, their crazy story that a prehistoric animal is alive and eating their beach population – no one would buy that BS, why not say there a large predatory shark causing havoc. Ah yes that means no explosive third act, of when all fails to entertain blown something up, because you remember Lori knows how to make torpedoes. In the end we have Jonas vs. Meg title fight complete spectacular leaps, hundreds of sharks, a feeding frenzy, and a Yorkie pooch named Pippin (which clearly referenced to Pippin, the Labrador in Jaws.)

First serving on a submarine is a volunteer post, and secondly tons of training/psychological testing goes into the position, because the ultimate duty of closing off a hatch sealing the fate of some to benefit the survivability other crew, the mission and vessel; hence the acting in this early sequence is quick and precise from Jonas, but Heller’s character is irresponsible and highly judgmental. Overall, the story paints in very large brush strokes as it’s a story arc of Jonas, a fallen theory only rise again and battle the beast that plagued his career and life. Of course, it never mentions how Jonas previously encounter with a Meg since there’re trap below (under) the Trench floor, that scientific moment is left unanswered though reminder if you fish for solutions to these points likely to catch onto a few plot holes and that’ll ruin one’s enjoyment. There’s plenty of cliches throughout the film and film references to Jaws 3D [1983], Jaws: The Revenge [1987] and nod to Deep Blue Sea [1999] that you can have a drinking game with your choice of beverage. One great homage scene the first that similar to Mrs. Kintner and her son Alex from Jaws is played as Mother and Awesome Kid on Beach (serious that is the credit role on the film).

So let’s note the comedic lines are far and few between, though not that funny, and the violence should have is for naught, the blood loss is almost absent appearing only for the animals, why it occurs is simple a PG-13 rating which helped it earn the box office returns for the whole family, instead of just one or two tickets, pardon the cynicism, the bottom line is important in blockbuster films. Therefore a full helping  of silliness and goofing with one character singing the Dora The Explorer song (a friend told me that one), as the film is exactly what you expect, but far superior to those countless megalodon ‘films’ on television and scattering on streaming sites like Megalodon [2018] released a few days after this film and most recently Megalodon: The Frenzy [2023]. It’s a Munch and Crunch versus Chompfest with sheer delights, and laughs, which gives a whopping thrill ride to all in attendance, as they can simply recall the fun of watching an action pack monster shark terrorize the cast of this flick.

TAGLINES:

• The most feared predator in history…is no longer history.
• If you see her coming…It’s all you’ll have time to say.
• Before chasing sea monsters, check your place on the food chain.
• They went to hell to build the world’s largest aquarium…now they’re going even further to stock it. They’ll need a bigger boat…MUCH bigger.
• Chomp on this.
• Pleased to eat you.
• Opening wide
• The ultimate Lady Killer.
• She’s the biggest thing you never saw coming.
• Where The Meg Comes To Life

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4779682/

IMDb Rating: 5.6/10

Baron’s Rating: 5.0/10

Followed By:

Meg 2: The Trench [2023]