Tanya’s Score: Okay*
Rated: 14A
Starring: the guy from The Office; the guy from all those tough guy movies; the girl from OITNB
Plot: Scientists are excited to explore beneath what they previously (and mistakenly) believed to be the bottom of the ocean – only to unleash a 70 foot shark on the rest of ocean-faring society.
Tanya’s Verdict: Some summer blockbusters are surprise hits (ie. the Ghostbusters reboot; Wonder Woman – which I never saw; It). And others are complete stinkers. This one falls into the second category. Too many tired cliches (Jason Statham is a marine scientist haunted by the deaths of his colleagues; gone to live and drink in Thailand; then back with a vengeance in order to redeem himself), bad dialogue (“That thing is out there. We have to find it and kill it“) and unsurprising plot twists (it’s dead – oh wait – no it’s not) had me catching a quick cat nap within the movie’s first 20 minutes (never a good sign). I awoke to catch up on the action and a few false endings before the real thing.
Jaws (1975) is a great movie – clear cut proof that bigger isn’t always better. Full disclosure though – my 8-year-old son enjoyed this one. I obviously did not.
*Four score descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great