Starring Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels and Cliff Curtis.

Directed by Ben Wheatley

Warner Bros., out now

 

A research team encounters multiple threats while exploring the depths of the ocean, including a malevolent mining operation.

We have no excuse – we knew this was going to be dumb. The first entry – 2018’s The Meg – revelled in the sheer craziness of Jason Statham vs a giant shark, and this is wilder, but even dumber. Jaws it ain’t.

One of the biggest concerns in Hollywood at the moments is that AI could take jobs away from writers. On the evidence of this movie, AI is already hard at work, churning up all the most ridiculous and predictable dialogue and spitting it out onto the page. We’ll ignore the inevitable influences of Jaws and its sequels, but who would have expected Alien, Aliens, The Poseidon Adventure, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Piranha 3DD to be in the mix?

Sadly, there’s no sign that director Ben Wheatley has added any of his signature style to this summer studio blockbuster – it’s anonymous, excessive and feels like it was made by committee. The plot, as it is, is no cleverer than Sharknado or its myriad sequels, stitching together a series of increasingly ludicrous set pieces. It’s Fast and Furious or Dwayne Johnson ridiculous, but not as fun.

Verdict: Dumb-dumb. Dumb-dumb. Dumb-dumb. Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb… 2/10

Nick Joy