For all those wondering what “Jaws” would look like if it was made today with a crapload of CGI, “The Meg” is your answer.
What if the shark in “Jaws” was a lot bigger and instead of Roy Scheider, action star Jason Statham fights the monster? That’s the basic premise of the new film “The Meg,” coming out later this summer, and if I’m being honest, this might be my most anticipated film for the rest of the season, especially with the new international trailer that just hit.
In the new trailer, viewers get the boiled down plot of the film. Scientists discover a massive Megalodon (thus the film’s title) under the sea, as you do, and they hire Jason Statham to fight the terrifying monster before it reaches the public and starts eating dozens of swimmers in one bite. The trailer shows that this film is definitely embracing the campy nature of the premise, and that’s the exact tone required to make this film work.
My excitement aside, there are some question marks that surround the film, however. First, there is a definite “Snakes on a Plane” vibe throughout, which could mean disaster. Another question is with the director, Jon Turteltaub. The director is far from a guarantee. For every “National Treasure” that hits the campy notes just right, there’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” that just isn’t good.
But then again, this is a Jason Statham film, and if that guy knows anything, it’s how to do action right and how to have a blast doing it. So never mind, my excitement is still through the roof.
“The Meg” will hit theaters on August 10.
Here’s the synopsis for the film:
A massive creature attacks a deep-sea submersible, leaving it disabled and trapping the crew at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. With time running out, rescue diver Jonas Taylor must save the crew and the ocean itself from an unimaginable threat — a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark known as the Megalodon.