Mark's Remarks

The Meg

Starring Jason Statham, Rainn Wilson and Li Bingbing

Rating: 🦈🦈🦈

Throughout middle school, the Wii was the biggest console out there. After school, kids would rush home to play all kinds of exciting games like Super Mario Odyssey or Wii Sports.

However, I faced some flack for my taste in Wii games, particularly my love for Endless Ocean. In the game, you were a diver who would swim around the… Endless Ocean.

There was no objective to the game. You would simply swim around and discover new fish. Although it was easy to find small fishes, large fishes like hammerhead or great white sharks really stood out.

Of those large fishes, I never encountered a megalodon.

On the other hand, Jonas, played by Jason Statham, has had a history with a megalodon as a diver. When a few people are stuck at the bottom of the ocean by the force of a meg, a reluctant Jonas is called to save them. After the mission, Jonas and his team come together to kill the meg.

Although not as soothing as Endless Ocean, The Meg is the perfect summer shark flick because of the strong chemistry among the team and fun action.

When Jonas and his team go up against the meg, you feel like you’re a part of the crew. There are a range of different personalities, where it’s easy to relate to at least one character.

Some characters include Jonas who goes at any length to get the job done, the billionaire Jack who is arrogant, and Suyin, a loving mother. These personas blend so well together because they all care about one another.

Personally, I identify with Jonas. I’m definitely as ripped, good looking, and I can easily outswim a megalodon.

The characters get involved in some crazy situations. While a big shark’s bite of the action is ridiculous, you can’t help but enjoy it.

You have to get a kick out of Jonas when he swims out alone to throw a spear at the meg or zips his small submarine around the bottom of the ocean to save his colleagues. If you’re going to sit in your chair with your arms crossed actually judging this fun movie, you’re a living blobfish.

It’s great to see Statham acting in a role like this again. In recent memory, Statham has taken on some crummy roles. Last summer, The Mechanic 2 wasn’t good enough to be in the $5 bin at WalMart, let alone screened at movie theaters across the country. Also, Statham has been Fast and Furious at cashing checks from that bombastic franchise.

In this case, Statham finally plays an enjoyable lead and is the action hero we’ve loved before in flicks like The Transporter, Crank, or the first Mechanic (let’s erase the second one from our memory).

The Meg goes as swimmingly as possible. It’s entertaining enough to stuff your face with gummy sharks, I mean popcorn, and leave your brain in the deep end.

Sorry Endless Ocean, but I don’t think your hammerhead sharks square up to The Meg.