Review of Jaws 2 (1978) by John P — 25 Jan 2009

Unfortunately, the shark is the whole reason this movie is mediocre, if serviceable. This would have been a much better movie if it was just Roy Scheider running around trying to prove there's another shark, and failing at every turn. I understand the movie wouldn't exist without the shark, so... Oh well.

The parts with Roy Scheider are the best, obviously. He plays Brody really well, and it helps a lot that most of the major adult characters are played by the same actors as the first one. This recalls the first film, where the small moments really added to the film, and made it more than a shark movie.

But then there's the damn kids. At least half the movie is devoted to Brody's son Michael, played much like a plank of wood nailed to the docks that he often runs across. The subplot has the teenagers disobeyin' the parents and sailin', even though there's a shark. It then devolves into a Friday the 13th-ripoff, even though it was made 3 years before the fact. Not sure if that makes it any better, but whatever.

So, you do not need to watch this. Your life won't change if you skip it. But if you do decide to watch it, you'll be rewarded with excellent John Williams music, excellent acting from Roy Scheider and all the adults, a decent plot, and punished with shitty shark scenes and the teenage subplot.

Uhh... And that's all.