Meg 2: The Trench Review: Ben Wheatley’s Sequel Receives Scathing Criticism as “Plain Awful”

Meg 2: The Trench – A Missed Opportunity for a Sequel

An Ambitious Sequel that Falls Short

The sequel to the 2018 hit film “The Meg” has arrived, and it has left critics underwhelmed. In her review, Caryn James describes “Meg 2: The Trench” as a movie that doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. With leaden dialogue, predictable action, and messy execution, the film falls into the category of being just plain awful.

“The Meg” had a clear goal – to be a slick commercial adventure. While it wasn’t groundbreaking, it managed to entertain audiences and earn over $530 million worldwide. However, its sequel fails to replicate its success. Instead of building on the strengths of its predecessor, “Meg 2: The Trench” seems lost and unsure of its identity.

A Shabby Descendant of Jaws

At times, “Meg 2: The Trench” tries to pay homage to its predecessors, particularly the iconic film “Jaws.” However, the execution falls flat. The movie attempts to be a serious descendant of “Jaws” but ends up feeling distant and shabby. The occasional glimmers of meta wit and retro visuals cannot salvage the overall lackluster experience.

The dialogue is leaden and the action scenes fail to thrill. The film’s attempts at self-awareness and nods to the genre are unimpressive and only further highlight its shortcomings. The bits and pieces of different ideas do not come together to create an entertaining movie.

A Wasted Cast and Uninspired Direction

The cast, including Jason Statham, Wu Jing, and Sophia Cai, does what they can with the material given to them. Statham, known for his sense of humor, delivers a perpetually furrowed brow and a scowl as his acting choice. However, even his talents cannot save the film from its poor dialogue and lack of character development.

The film’s director, Ben Wheatley, known for his quirky and diverse filmography, fails to bring a distinctive tone to “Meg 2: The Trench.” The movie lacks a cohesive vision, leaving the audience disconnected and unengaged. The sporadic and distracting low-tech effects further contribute to the disjointed experience.

A Missed Opportunity for a Sequel

“Meg 2: The Trench” had the potential to be an exciting and entertaining sequel. However, it falls short on multiple fronts. Its inability to define its identity, weak dialogue, and uninspired direction result in a film that is plain awful.

Sequels have the opportunity to build upon the success of their predecessors and offer fresh perspectives. Unfortunately, “Meg 2: The Trench” fails to capitalize on this opportunity and leaves fans disappointed.

Advice for Film Fans

If you were a fan of “The Meg” and are hoping for a worthy successor, “Meg 2: The Trench” may not meet your expectations. Its lackluster execution and underwhelming storytelling make it difficult to recommend. However, if you are a fan of the genre and enjoy cheesy and predictable action films, you might find some enjoyment in this film despite its flaws.

It’s important to remember that not every sequel lives up to its predecessor. In this case, “Meg 2: The Trench” is a missed opportunity. Let’s hope that future sequels can learn from its mistakes and deliver a more satisfying cinematic experience.