Jaws 2

Starring: Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gray, Murray Hamilton, Joseph Mascolo, Jeffrey Kramer, Mark Gruner
Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
Rating: PG
Thriller
1978

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Sheriff Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) begins to suspect Amity is being threatened by another great white shark. Despite his warnings, no one in the town wants to believe him- until the attacks begin.

Review:

Tim: After the classic Jaws, I admit I had some reservations about the sequel. These are usually slapped together to take advantage of the original, and are never in the same league as the first film. With Jaws 2, you also had a troubled production with a fired director. This is not a recipe for success. And yet, despite all those obstacles, I really liked this film. The movie doesn't stray too far from the original, but it is still a solid thriller.

The main reason that this movie works so well is because of Roy Scheider. Scheider was very good in the original, and now, in the disappointing absence of Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw, Scheider is the man. He seizes the opportunity and makes the most of it. Scheider is a charismatic, strong actor, and has a few scenes here where his acting is pretty remarkable. Yes, he is in a thriller sequel, but he gives a terrific performance. I love the character of Sheriff Brody, and it was fun seeing him battle a killer shark once again. Without Scheider, the film would have been a disappointment. With him, it simply works.

While not having any of the iconic scenes of the original, I thought the script was pretty good for this film. We are given some very nerveracking, thrilling scenes. A number of times I jumped, due to the surprising scenes on screen. The movie balances character development with suspense quite well. This isn't a perfect movie, but it entertained quite well.

I do sorely miss Dreyfuss and Shaw, and their absence hurts the movie quite a bit. There's also no iconic, unforgettable lines. The original film is a classic, and this film, although not as good, is still a worthy sequel. In some ways, that is quite impressive. There was every reason for this film to be an utter failure (and I admit some may see it as such). Yes, the film has flaws- it is far too long, for once instance. However, the shark attack scenes are still pretty impressive, and the cinematography was quite good. Some of the aerial shots of various crafts on the open ocean gave you a great sense of the isolation and the fear you would feel in the middle of the open water with a great white hunting you.

As often is the case, I like a movie more than I think I should. I believe Jaws 2 is a film that is easy to criticize, simply because of what it is. However, I don't think expectations alone determine a movie's fate. I am willing to admit this movie is better than I expected, and that it entertained me. This will never be considered a classic, but it is a good, enjoyable thriller. I liked this movie.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Jaws, Jaws 3, Jurassic Park, Deep Blue Sea