Ridiculous fun
Summary
If you’re looking for anything resembling intelligence then Meg 2: The Trench may not be for you, but if you want a fun escape from reality for a few hours you could do worse as this delivered all the monster carnage I was looking for as well as regular fight scenes and set-pieces to keep things moving.
Plot: Jonas Taylor leads a research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal, prehistoric sharks and relentless environmental plunderers, they must outrun, outsmart and outswim their merciless predators.
Review: It’s well known that my experience watching the first Meg film was one of the worst theatrical experiences of my entire life; it wasn’t any fault of the movie (which I have since grown to thoroughly enjoy) but it was filled with the most annoying kind of audience who talked most of the way through the film. I wish I could say tonight’s viewing of the sequel Meg 2: The Trench was far more successful but once again it brought in the lowest common denominator of the public; a group of young guys in our row started play-fighting throughout and even listened to things on their phones. Thankfully their stupidity didn’t detract from the even greater nonsense of what was going on in the movie.
Directed by Ben Wheatley (Free Fire) Meg 2: The Trench has a solid first half and is a fun mixture of Deep Blue Sea meets Jurassic Park; this entry has more action than the first with several fight scenes and explosions with Jason Statham doing what he does best. Any movie which has him kicking a bad guy into a Megalodon’s mouth automatically has my seal of approval.
The final half hour turns the crazy up to 11 and my brother absolutely hated it but to be honest, it was everything I hoped for and just the kind of utter nonsense I am in the mood for at the moment. Not only do we get multiple Megs (which should be the title of the third movie or possibly Mystic Meg where the “trained” Meg becomes a fortune teller) but we also get a Kraken and some stupid small lizard things which were maybe my least favourite aspect of the film. Yes, it’s all CG but when it comes to a movie like this I really don’t care as it’s just part of the fun and the effects are actually decent for the most part.
We get some one note villains who are just there to be eaten and that’s exactly what happens; Meg 2 is even more bloodless than the first film which is a shame as some gore and nudity could have elevated it a little.
It’s nice to see Wu Jing in a sizeable role but you can’t help but feel cheated that he doesn’t get any fight scenes, so if you’re expecting him to roundhouse kick a Meg in the face you may be disappointed.
Several characters return from the first one and I like how DJ (Page Kennedy) has developed where he has learned to swim and has a backpack for every emergency. Keep an eye out for Ron Smoorenberg as one of the mercenaries too.
Overall, Meg 2: The Trench has a superior first half which was genuinely entertaining and not a simple rehash of the original movie, then it just goes utterly bonkers in the finale with Statham and friends battling Megs, Krakens and those little lizard things. It’s utter nonsense but after a particularly trying week it was exactly what I was in the mood for and I was just laughing along with it. This is up there with Sharknado in terms of utter madness, so perhaps we could have Stathnado in the future where it’s just a whirlwind of Jason Statham punching everyone in the face. I’d watch it.