Meg 2: The Trench

Meg 2: The Trench plunges audiences back into the thrilling world of colossal prehistoric sharks, with Jason Statham at the center of the action as the intrepid Jonas Taylor. After the worldwide success of its predecessor, this sequel promises to rise to the challenge and deliver a relentless confrontation between man and the monstrous sea creatures. However, as the film unfolds, it becomes clear that Meg 2: The Trench walks a delicate line between comic entertainment and sheer absurdity.

Ben Wheatley, the unexpected choice of new director, leaves behind his darker, more psychological films to venture into blockbuster territory. This decision may raise eyebrows, but it also hints at a potential change of tone, injecting dark humor into the narrative. While the film could have benefited from Wheatley's penchant for bold storytelling, it's constrained by commercial necessity to maintain a PG-13 rating, missing out on opportunities to indulge in joyous bloodshed and visceral thrills.

The story begins with Jonas Taylor, now an environmental activist, joining a research team on an expedition to a deep ocean trench, where prehistoric megalodons slumber. Once the initial set-up is complete, the film bogs down for the first two-thirds, devoting too much time to underdeveloped characters and underwater exploration. This lethargic pace and lack of shark action may leave some viewers feeling like they're drowning in a sea of pointless explanations.

The cast, made up of new and returning faces, doesn't get a chance to shine as much as it should. Cliff Curtis and Page Kennedy are the only two characters familiar from the first film, while the rest of the team become mere stopgaps in the chaos that ensues. Despite the chemistry between Statham and Wu Jing, their dynamic seems unexplored, potentially missing the opportunity to create a memorable buddy duo. The characters, like the megalodons themselves, remain untapped potential.

It's in the film's crazy final hour that Meg 2: The Trench finally finds its stride. The climactic act unleashes an orgy of absurdity that pits giant sharks, giant octopuses, gun-toting villains and even dinosaurs against each other. Here, Wheatley and screenwriters Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber cheerfully throw any sense of reality overboard, allowing the film to embrace its true nature as a wild, unhinged creature feature.

The action sequences in the finale are a feast for the eyes, a fusion of chaotic and outlandish elements that defy logic. Statham's resourceful Jonas takes center stage, armed only with spears and a jetski, becoming the unexpected hero the film needs. Scenes of carnage and destruction set in the island resort add a much-needed sense of urgency, and the view from inside the shark's mouth is a cinematic gem that shows Wheatley is aware of the ridiculousness of the film's premise.

If the film finally builds on its B-movie spirit, it unfortunately comes far too late. By leaving out the megalodons for most of the film's running time, the film undermines its main selling point and leaves audiences wanting more in the way of shark destruction. By focusing more on the sharks and better balancing the dark humor, Meg 2: The Trench could have reached the heights of delicious absurdity that B-movie fans love.

Visually, Meg 2: The Trench oscillates between moments of impressive underwater cinematography and others where the CGI sharks are disappointingly disjointed. The film's limited budget is sometimes apparent, hampering its ability to fully immerse the audience in the impressive world beneath the waves.

Meg 2: The Trench manages to navigate the murky waters of entertainment thanks to its self-awareness and B-movie spirit. It's a film that doesn't take itself too seriously, but its reluctance to dive fully into its comic potential ultimately holds it back. For those ready to have mindless fun and forget the film's shortcomings, Meg 2: The Trench offers a chaotic, if somewhat belated, spectacle of action and absurdity.

Meg 2: The Trench
Directed by Ben Wheatley
Screenplay by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Dean Georgaris
Story by Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber
Based on The Trench: Meg 2 by Steve Alten
Produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Belle Avery
With Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels, Cliff Curtis
Cinematography: Haris Zambarloukos
Editing: Jonathan Amos
Music: Harry Gregson-Williams
Production companies: CMC Pictures, DF Pictures, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Apelles Entertainment
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release dates: June 9, 2023 (SIFF), August 2, 2023 (France), August 4, 2023 (U.S.).
Running time: 116 minutes

Seen on August 2, 2023 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 1 seat L19

Mulder's Mark: