A bad movie raking in cash
THE career of Jason Statham is probably one that historians will look at with keen interest.
The Englishman’s work ranges from performances in movies like “The Transporter” (trilogy); “The Italian Job”; and “Wrath of Man”, as well as passion projects like “The Expendables” (trilogy), to a terrible film that happens to be “The Meg” (2018).
For the most part, the thin line between good and bad for Statham’s movie is just a matter of opinion, but “The Meg” is an exception, as we can all agree that it was a bad movie.
This is the one stain on what could have been the actor’s impeccable CV.
So, imagine my surprise when the movie made a lot of money, US$530 million at the box office, such that a sequel was sanctioned.
Well, the sequel is out, and, true to form, it is just as bad, but has already started generating big money at the box office.
“The Meg 2: The Trench” picks up five years after the events of the first movie, as humans seek to discover more and mine the deep-sea territory known as the trench.
For those not in the know, the trench is like the deepest part of the Mariana Sea, where prehistoric fishermen lay traps for many centuries.
The main predators of the sea were prehistoric sharks known as Megalodons or Megs, for short.
A greedy capitalist by the name of Hillary Driscoll has been mining the trench for its rare minerals for weeks and attempts to blow it up when her operation is about to be discovered.
The explosion sets up a breach for three Megs to escape and wreak havoc.
It is up to Statham’s Jonas Taylor character to save the day with the help of a few of his friends, namely, DJ (Page Kennedy) and Mac (Cliff Curtis).
One cannot help but get the feeling that
CMC Pictures is trying to build this film into a franchise — maybe the modern “Jaws”.
This probably explains why the major focus of the sequel is mainly on the human element, rather than the actual sharks.
From a critical point of view, this is the film’s only redeeming feature, as it works well into the pacing of the movie, allowing more dialogue rather than gore.
Kennedy and Curtis are given a lot more to do as the two provide the film’s comic relief, and do so well.
The film’s director Ben Wheatley does an outstanding job at balancing the film’s tone, as we jump from action to comedy and gore (shark killings) seamlessly.
Statham does what he knows best as the brooding man, occasionally whispering or gently saying out his lines.
It is a talent that only he possesses and excels in. The new film has already done well at the box office, having already raked in over US$300 million.
Do not be surprised if another production, for a third instalment, is underway.