Top 10

‘The Meg’ tries to put teeth back in shark movies

BY JAY BOBBIN

For a number of years, the “Sharknado” cable movies kept shark thrillers alive ... but after the last of those was televised, the theatrical-movie industry apparently felt it was time to sharpen itself up on that genre.

Thus we got “The Meg,” an old-fashioned scare show that has nothing on “Jaws,” though it tries to lift a few elements from that classic tale. In the film – which TNT shows Thursday, Sept. 16, and Friday, Sept. 17 – a prehistoric shark the size of a small island targets an undersea research lab and its crew. You also might think of the film “Deep Blue Sea,” and that’s how shameless “The Meg” is about ripping off other waterlogged fright fests. “Flipper” may be the only fish tale that hasn’t been cribbed from in this case.

Action star Jason Statham plays the chiseled leader of the undersea team, and he’s haunted by a tragedy from his seafaring past. (Hello, Quint!) Though he gets top billing, he’s not the most interesting person on board, thanks to a cast that also includes such familiar faces as Rainn Wilson of “The Office,” Robert Taylor of “Longmire” and Masi Oka of “Heroes” and “Hawaii Five-0.”

And then, there is that massive shark, called a Megalodon ... or “The Meg” for short. In a way, this film got stolen from itself, since Syfy premiered a thriller called “Megalodon” within days of “The Meg’s” release. With that striking a similarity, we’d say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. But, of course, we’d never say that.

The easiest way to get audience members to jump out of their seats with something like “The Meg” is to have the creature sneak up or pop out at unexpected moments – but with such a picture, you expect that to happen at almost any turn. With that said, there are some reasonable jolts in “The Meg,” and that’s what viewers will come to it for. (Unless they mistakenly think they’re going to see a biography of Meg Ryan.)

Director Jon Turteltaub knows how to make movies, as he’s proven with “Phenomenon,” “While You Were Sleeping” and “National Treasure.” With “The Meg,” he tackles a category that’s tried and true ... but in spite of a couple of true scares, and the fact that the result had a surprisingly big opening due largely to clever marketing, some may wonder why he tried.

Jason Statham’s Top 10 Movies

BY JAY BOBBIN

“The Fate of the Furious” (2017): Though he had appeared in earlier chapters of the action franchise, Statham’s potent teamwork with Dwayne Johnson in this edition launched discussions about the two getting their own spinoff – which they ultimately did.

“Spy” (2015): Statham uses his rugged image in a different way as a CIA agent skeptical of getting an analyst (Melissa McCarthy) as an in-thefield colleague.

“Parker” (2013): A typically tough Statham has the title role of a thief bent on getting even for his crew’s betrayal of him.

“Safe” (2012): A paternal aspect is added to Statham’s role as a former cage fighter protecting a special youngster (Catherine Chan) from various forces.

“Killer Elite” (2011): Though it shares the title of an earlier movie, this thriller largely goes its own way, but it keeps the theme of professional assassins as embodied by Statham and Robert De Niro.

“The Mechanic” (2011): In another remake, Statham assumes Charles Bronson’s earlier part as a resourceful killer teaching his trade to a protege (Ben Foster).

“The Expendables” (2010): Statham is one of many brawny stars in this series-launching saga of mercenaries-for-hire led by Sylvester Stallone.

“Death Race” (2008): Yes ... another remake. Statham takes over the harddriving role of a competitor in an auto race in which winning means others losing their lives.

“Crank” (2006): This variation on “Speed” casts Statham as a hit man (again) injected with a chemical that forces him to keep his heart rate above a certain level to survive.

“The Transporter” (2002): Arguably the most flexible business suit ever worn by an actor – or by anyone, for that matter – shares the starring role with Statham, who plays an independent courier in over his head.

Celebs become videographers in Season 3 of Fuse’s ‘Made From Scratch’

BY GEORGE DICKIE

If Fuse’s “Made From Scratch” seems to have taken on a more intimate tone in Season 3, it might be because of the way the eight episodes were shot.

Premiering Wednesday, Sept. 15, the new installments of the half-hour series that follows musical artists in their kitchens as they and kin prepare family recipes were actually shot by the subjects themselves. There were no production crews this time around, a concession to the pandemic, only camera packs and lighting shipped to the celebs’ homes with instructions on set-up and use.

According to Jon Scarlett, Fuse Media’s vice president of content and a producer on the show, all the artists acquitted themselves quite nicely as their own videographers.

“It worked well with kind of the overall narrative of the show,” he explains. “It’s not just playing on titles, it’s not just about the artist’s background and how they’re made from scratch or even how the dishes they’re creating are made from scratch. But really the show itself is made from scratch in the way that the artists themselves are taking it upon themselves to really produce it and shoot it.”

This season, the focus shifts to younger artists as viewers get to go inside the kitchens of pop singer/actress Becky G, singer/songwriter Maria Isabel, rapper Smino, R&B singer Joyce Wrice and singer/songwriter/actress Tinashe, and watch them prepare a dish with a close family member as they let down their guard and reveal how family and food has shaped their identity as people and artists.

“One of the best environments for that is in the kitchen,” Scarlett says, “or hanging around the dinner table and having a home-cooked meal with somebody you grew up with. So we were able to lean into that.

“And obviously this show is not a cooking show,” he continues. “We’re not lifting out recipes and having the audience kind of follow along what they’re making. It’s more about the interaction and the sharing of anecdotes and stories and really heartfelt conversations around food and dining with a loved one. And that’s really what the show is about. More so than just kind of two people in the kitchen cooking, it’s really about sharing those intimate moments.”