THE MEG (PG-13)
Released by Warner Brothers
Review by Adam Mast
There’s something to be said for a movie that knows precisely how schlocky it is and THE MEG certainly qualifies. Tonally speaking, this one rests somewhere comfortably between DEEP BLUE SEA and SHARKNADO. Therefore, if you’re a fan of either of those movies, you should find THE MEG pretty entertaining.
In THE MEG, a deep-sea research facility comes across an otherworldly paradise in the uncharted depths of the Mariana Trench but shortly thereafter, the discovery of a prehistoric shark known as a megalodon puts not only this research facility in danger but mankind as we know it. Thankfully, mankind has rugged deep-sea explorer Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) on its side and with any luck, he might just save the day.
That’s right, folks. It’s Jason Statham vs. a massive prehistoric shark and if you’re putting your money on the shark, then you probably haven’t seen very many Jason Statham movies.
This PG-13 rated monster movie has been in development for quite some time and in fact, at one point, goremeister Eli Roth was attached to direct. I’d be lying if I said a little part of me wasn’t a little bit curious to see what kind of movie THE MEG might have been had the man behind HOSTEL directed it! It’s probably safe to say it wouldn’t have been rated PG-13. On the other hand, Roth does have the family-friendly (and very Amblinesque) THE HOUSE WITH THE CLOCKS IN ITS WALLS opening this fall, so perhaps there’s more to this gorehound than meets the eye.
As it stands, the version of THE MEG that did ultimately find its way to fruition was directed by Jon Turteltaub, the man behind the John Travolta-headlined tearjerker, PHENOMENON, and the NATIONAL TREASURE films. Turteltaub opts to trade in the carnage you might be expecting for big cheesy set pieces and goofy CG visuals, although it has been reported that a considerable amount of gore was left on the cutting room floor. The end result is a movie that’s fun even if it could use a little more bite, particularly in the final act in which a highly populated beach resort has the potential to serve as the world’s largest seafood buffet. I kind of wish they would have gone there. Still, this movie’s self-aware approach, oddly light tone, and likable cast rapport make it a more entertaining experience than the substantially higher profile summer movie entries that were SKYSCRAPER and JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM.
Again, a lot of what works in this dopey movie works because Statham is so damn charming. Even when he’s putting up an intimidating front and acting like an asshole. Statham just milks this movie for all the fun it’s worth. His big save-the-day sequence in the final act, in particular, is ridiculous but it’s positively joyous in its ridiculousness and that’s mostly a testament to Statham’s natural likability. Even Jonas’s cute little romance with Bingbing Li‘s Suyin works, because both performers manage to bring an earnest sensibility to the proceedings even though they are both well aware of what kind of movie this really is. In fact, the entire cast (i.e. Rainn Wilson, Cliff Curtis, Ruby Rose, Jessica McNamee, Page Kennedy, Masi Oka, and Robert Taylor) appears to be in on the joke and this makes the whole thing even more amusing. Further props to Shuya Sophia Cai for her endearing, scene-stealing work as a precocious youngster who warms Jonas’s, cold heart.
THE MEG offers up obvious nods to the likes of ALIENS, JURASSIC PARK, PACIFIC RIM, THE ABYSS, and yes, even JAWS but it’s so intentionally silly that these nods feel warm and inviting rather than cheap and off-putting. Don’t get me wrong. THE MEG is hardly the rebirth of the modern monster movie and this flick certainly isn’t without moments of cringe-worthy dialogue, but one thing is certain; THE MEG is the best killer prehistoric shark movie of 2018! In fact, it might just be the best killer prehistoric shark movie of the decade!
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