SHARKNADO 2: THE SECOND ONE

A BITING REVIEW

By Lorenzo Vallente

Film Critics Circle '14-'15

Directed by: Anthony C. Ferrante

Starring:    Ian Ziering

                    Tara Reid

                    Vivica A. Fox

                    Mark McGrath

PLOT SUMMARY:

            The protagonists of the first movie are on their way to New York for a signing of their book, How To Survive A Sharknado and Other Unnatural Disasters, when another Sharknado begins. This time, the movie is set in New York. What havoc will the sharks cause in the Big Apple? Watch this fantastic movie and find out.

REVIEW PROPER:

       We all know this movie is terrible. I am not here to disprove that indisputable statement. I am simply here to defend the creativity, imagination, and brilliance of the filmmakers helming this disaster of a film. "Oh Lorenzo, what ever do you mean?" any sensible reader would ask. Well, dear educated readers, bear with me as I make my case.

      As stated before, this is a terrible movie. We know it and even the filmmakers know it, and there lies my first point. The movie is incredibly self-aware and it works much much better because of it. Don't expect the brilliant awareness of 22 Jump Street in this movie. However, why would you? It's SHARKNADO. Moving on, the movie knows it's stupid and the filmmakers go through the arduous process to keep it so. It piles on lots of bad jokes, unintentionally (or are they) hilarious scenes of drama and action that get more and more ridiculous by the minute. Again, this movie knows all this and winks at the audience every step of the way. By intentionally setting out to make a 'so bad it's good' film, it entertains us immensely in the process. And that's what we go to the movies for, to be entertained.

        Well, we have to talk technical so…

        The plot is absurd and has always been so. The acting is terrible, and the 'stars' make every effort to look as goofy and self-aware as possible, which (I suppose) is commendable. The directing is functional and sometimes has surprisingly good camera shots. The scene where the characters of Ziering and Fox are running to the roof has solid camerawork. The slow-mo sequences also delight. The scene where Ziering splits the shark in half in slow-mo is incredibly satisfying. The special effects are terrible. They look as if they were ripped out of a Gamecube game, but it's SyFy so you can't expect much more. The lighting is fine, as none of the scenes are too dark or too bright. It must seem ridiculous to critique this as a legitimate movie, but it must be done.

       It is also necessary to point out that opposed to other films of the Z-movie type (ex. Octoshark Megalodon Crocodile vs Anaconda), the two Sharknados are by far the least painful and most fun ones of them all. I think this movie is more aware than the first Sharknado and succeeds to be a little more entertaining as well. This movie piles on the cameos so keep your eyes peeled for famous faces hidden in tiny roles.

     Overall, as a film, it is utter garbage. However, as a piece of ridiculous, guilty entertainment, it is a masterpiece. Someone asked me if I found it disconcerting that people are now making intentionally horrible movies as opposed to trying to make amazing and thought-provoking ones. I answered that I did not. As long as an audience remains entertained and forgets about their worries for 2 hours, a movie has done its job. And I believe this movie passes that test with flying colors. Thank you, Sharknado, for making me believe in entertaining schlock.

          Sharknado 3 will be released in July so keep an eye out for it.

RATING: 10/10