I joined CP24 to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres. Today we talk about the turtle power of “TMNT: Mutant Mayhem,” the Jason Statham flick “Meg 2: The Trench” and the dramedy “Shortcomings.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with guest host Andrew Pinsent to talk the new movies coming to theatres including the turtle power of “TMNT: Mutant Mayhem,” the shark-jumping “The Meg 2: The Trench,” the dramedy “Shortcomings” and the historical documentary “A Compassionate Spy.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
Five years ago “The Meg,” a prehistoric creature feature starring a CGI shark and underwater actionman Jason Statham, took a $500 million bite out of the worldwide box office. This weekend, Ben Wheatley, a director best known for the arthouse, satirical thrills of movies like ”High Rise” and “Kill List,” dives in for the sequel, hoping to make a splash by reteaming Statham with a super shark. Question is, will “Meg 2: The Trench” be fin-tastic or does it jump the shark?
The fishy business centers on billionaire philanthropist Jiuming (Wu Jing) and eco-warrior Jonas Taylor (Statham). Jiuming owns an oceanographic institute, home to its own captive Meg, a nickname for a megalodon—think Bruce the Shark from “Jaws” on steroids—once thought to have been extinct for about 2 million years. Taylor is a former U.S. Marine whose steely gaze is rivalled only by the dead eyes of the Meg.
The unlikely pair lead a dangerous mission to an “ancient ecosystem untouched by man,” an oceanic trench twenty-five thousand feet under the surface of the ocean. The mission goes sideways when an illegal mining operation sets off an explosion that creates a breach in the thermocline, trapping Jiuming, Jonas and crew six kilometres deep, surrounded by colossal, Megs and all manner of aggressive, primordial undersea creatures. “Three massive Megs and who knows what else have escaped the breach!”
Midway through “The Meg: The Trench” Statham rasps, “This ain’t good.” It’s a meta moment that feels like the actor has broken the fourth wall to comment on the movie. He hasn’t of course. The movie isn’t clever enough to have that kind of built-in self-awareness.
But he’s not wrong.
From the reams of cliched dialogue seemingly borrowed from other, better action movies and half-hearted homages to “Jaws” and “Jurassic Park” to the rehash of Statham Stock Character #2—the man with a past who must protect a young, innocent child—and lame attempts to create a catchphrase (“See you later chum.”), “The Meg 2: The Trench” doesn’t add up to much until it becomes a creature feature in its last half hour. Even then, the alleged giant octopus is left mostly to the viewer’s imagination and seen only as a tentacle or two sticking out of the water.
“Meg 2: The Trench” spends much of its runtime underwater, which makes sense, because for 95% of its running time, it’s all wet.
I join NewsTalk 1010 host Jim Richards on the coast-to-coast-to-coast late night “NewsTalk Tonight” to play the game “Did Richard Crouse Like This?” This week we talk about the pedal to the metal “Fast X,” the drama “Master Gardener” and the rom com with a twist, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
I join CTV NewsChannel anchor Marcia MacMillan to talk about the pedal to the metal “Fast X,” the drama “Master Gardener” and the rom com with a twist, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I sit in with CKTB morning show host Tim Denis to have a look at the pedal to the metal “Fast X,” the drama “Master Gardener” and the rom com with a twist, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
I joined CP24 to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres. Today we talk about the pedal to the metal “Fast X,” the drama “Master Gardener” and the rom com with a twist, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I join “CP24 Breakfast” to talk about what to see in theatres and on streaming service this weekend, including the pedal to the metal “Fast X,” the rom com with a twist, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” and the Paramount+ reality show “The Family Stallone.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk the new movies coming to theatres including the pedal to the metal “Fast X,” the drama “Master Gardener” and the rom com with a twist, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
