MEG 2: THE TRENCH (2023)

MEG 2: THE TRENCH (2023)

Tagline: New Meg, Old Chum

(Action, Sci-Fi, Giant Sharks Will Eat Your Face) [PG-13]

In this one, Meiying’s uncle is doing a lot of tech development for a company run by Driscoli an ultra-wealthy and powerful corporation head. James 'Mac' Mackreides is still heading research into the trench that a couple Megalodon escaped from 4 years earlier. Jonas Taylor has also started working with ‘Mac’ to try and stop chemical and nuclear dumping in the area. It doesn’t take long before a new incident leads to the release of not only new Megalodon but other creatures from the depths of the ocean. Can Jonas, DJ, Mac, and the rest of the crew stop this new threat? 

First off, this movie is not going to be for the critics looking to pick apart every little issue they find with the plot. Just based on the previews if you thought this was going for an academy award you probably need to take a minute to reassess. This is meant to be a full-blown popcorn flick with nonsense action and giant freakin sharks eating people. 

I am going to start with what I did not like. Bingbing Li as Suyin is notably missing from this thing. This is not really anyone’s fault. It appears she stepped out of the production due to some personal issues involving her long-term relationship and wanting a mental break from acting.  So I wish the best for her. So, yeah, not having her in the film really was a downer. I was super excited to hear that her co-star from RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION Sienna Guillory (who plays Jill Valentine) was going to be in the film, but then they gave her probably the role I least would have wanted to see her in. She does get a gun at one point in the film, so at least there’s that. If you are casting Sienna in an action film, you give her a heavy action role. She’s awesome. 

That’s it. Everything else in this freakin movie is an absolute abomination to physics, science, common sense, and plot structure and it’s wonderfully glorious. This thing is the reason I go to movies, for the most part, I never go to movies to check “into” reality. I go to be entertained. Some movies accomplish that better than others but MEG 2: THE TRENCH pulls out all the stops. The first hour might actually be even better than the 2nd hour. The second hour stuff was the main reason I went to see this, so clearly I wasn’t disappointed, but this film does feel like it’s split into 2 parts. One is kind of a full-blown under-the-ocean action flick like THE ABYSS only with tons of CGI. The second half is kind of like if MEGA SHARK VS. GIANT OCTOPUS had actually been well produced. 

Acting wise Sienna isn’t the only connection this film has to the RESIDENT EVIL series. We also have Sergio Peris-Mencheta (RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE) show up in this and he does a fantastic job in his role. They also give him a motive to be how he is, so it all works. Page Kennedy (THE MEG) is back as DJ and gets way more funny lines in this one than he did in the first one. Melissanthi Mahut is a fantastic addition as Rigas. I would not be shocked if she starts showing up in more action flicks. Shuya Sophia Cai (THE MEG) returns to her role as Meiying and is given quite a bit to do in this. She is wonderful in both films. Cliff Curtis (RISEN) returns as ‘Mac’ and does a good job. I do feel like they made his character less serious and it probably wasn’t to the film's benefit when it comes to contrast between personalities. Jing Wu (THE WANDERING EARTH) is solid here. I have to say that THE WANDERING EARTH was really boring for a sci-fi action flick, but that isn't important right now. Jason Statham is great at playing a softer more sober version of Jonas Taylor. 

Overall this thing is not going to be for everyone, but I absolutely loved it. The pacing is great, and the score and soundtrack are fun. There is no after-credit scene, but the credits song appears to be a nod to DEEP BLUE SEA. I mean, how many rap songs are there about sharks? 

This one gets a 6 out of 7. It’s nearly 2 hours long and quite honestly I would have been down for at least one more hour of shark mayhem. This is a spectacular entry in the series. 

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