Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Meg 2 – The Trench review says bring you sense of humor and batten down for this summer’s obligatory voracious shark movie.

Com’on. You weren’t really expecting Steven Spielberg quality, were you? Every summer needs a good shark movie, and they don’t all have to be Jaws. In fact, none of them are ever going to be Jaws — it’s a consummate film. So just get over it and be open-minded about this year’s entry into the genre, the Jason Statham anchored Meg 2 – The Trench.

I hadn’t really thought much about this film until I was walking Frankie Feldman on Dog Beach in Huntington Beach, and noted that the trash cans were wrapped in the poster for Meg 2.  I thought that was pretty funny and gutsy. Nothing like encouraging people to go in the water like a picture of a gigantic shark about to chomp on vacationers. I give the WB marketing team bonus points for being clever.

Meg 2 – The Trench review — What’s it all about?

A sequel to 2018’s summer hit Meg, based on the Steve Alten novel about a hangry megalodon, this time around deep sea diver Jonas Taylor (Stratham), thinks he’s going on an altruistic mission with his oceanographer pals, but of course it spirals into something deeper.

They eventually end up fighting off multiple megalodons and other menacing creatures with sharp teeth and tentacles, plus a team of bad tempered mercenaries. Where else would it go?

Sure, it takes its time getting to the roiling and rollicking conclusion at a flashy resort called “Fun Island,” where most of the people who get eaten have already revealed themselves to be jerks.

But it’s worth the time it takes to get there, mostly taken up by Stratham and Co. slogging around a deep trench station in futuristic diving suits that make it impossible to determine who’s at risk. Spoiler alert: it’s always the ones with the least character development who get eaten first.

Also, if the special effects aren’t quite up to gazillion dollar standards, Meg 2 can be forgiven. In fact, that’s part of the fun. The film has no pretensions. Watching Statham with his determined glare race around on a jet ski while giant CGI tentacles are flailing around burrito wrapping terrified tourists is highly entertaining.

Although it may not be high praise, Meg 2 – The Trench is several levels up from the Sharknedo movies, and worth a trip to the cinema. There are worse things than spending almost two hours with an all-wet Jason Statham.

Rated PG-13

1 Hour 56 Minutes

If this Meg 2 – The Trench review makes you want to sail over the local cineplex, get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Meg 2 – The Trench review says bring you sense of humor and batten down for this summer’s obligatory voracious shark movie. It won’t keep you from going into the water, but it will entertain you for a spell.