Roberta Kenney

You have to love and long for a wrap up of loose ends to the original to really get involved. This isn't really that. The script is mostly spectacle, not much emotional development of the characters. Pascal is the pretty girlfriend without much to do. Mescal's late and subdued transformation into Lucius is hardly the "rage" filled man who comes to his senses and his identity. Derek Jacoby is barely a walk on. Denzel is the standout here with the best lines and presence, but that feels odd considering it should be Paul Mescal's story. But it was going to make a lot of money no matter what, as the VFX is the heart of this movie. 24 years of money- making comic book adaptations has apparently convinced the producers and marketers that all we really want as an audience is to see close-ups of horrible deaths including sharks munching on fallen men, a communal favorite morbid fascination (and if you were really going to do that, why not throw a bit more time and artistry into that alone instead of sharks that look like wind up toys in a bathtub?) If you are going to make a sequel to a best picture, best screenplay, best actor, best supporting actor, best director movie, why settle for best VFX and nothing else?

Saw this at the Laemmle Santa Monica and hope it comes to a theater near you if you aren't subscribed to Apple. I live near enough to Topanga Canyon to relish the refs and my heart is in Ireland. Sweet, happy, surprising and twisty film.