Review of The Meg

A team of scientists is sponsored by the millionaire Jack Morris (Rainn Wilson) to research the Mariana Trench in the facility Mana One in the Pacific Ocean under the command of Dr. Minway Zhang (Winston Chao). While visiting the facility, Morris witnesses the submarine commanded by Lori (Jessica McNamee) with two scientists attacked and trapped by a huge creature and soon they lose contact with the base. The manager James "Mac" Mackreides (Cliff Curtis) convinces the group to summon the rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham), who was accused of leaving two members of his crew behind in a rescue operation in a submarine five years ago, and travels with Dr. Zhang to Thailand where Taylor leaves despite the protests of Dr. Heller (Robert Taylor) that participated also in of the former rescue mission. The reluctant Taylor accepts the assignment when he learns that his former wife Lori was piloting the submarine and heads with Mac and Zhang to Mana One. He befriends Dr. Zhang's daughter Suyin (Bingbing Li) and soon they all learn that a prehistorical predator Megalodon was released from the Mariana Trench and now endangering people on the nearby beaches.

"The Meg" is a brainless but entertaining B-movie directed by Jon Turteltaub. The plot recalls those old sci-fi films from the 50's with state-of-art special effects. Audiences that watch "The Meg" would neither expect an art house film nor an Oscar winner; therefore, the viewer sees a funny film with lots of action as expected. Many reviews are unfair. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Megatubarão" ("Megashark")

Note: On 15 September 2023, I saw this film again.