The Sharknado franchise is a motion picture powerhouse that many, myself included, just cannot get enough of.
The beautiful blend of terror, screenwriting, special effects and just the right amount of humor has powered Sharknado onto the Mount Rushmore of movies, right next to Citizen Kane and The Shawshank Redemption. The single issue with the Sharknado franchise is that there are four (soon to be five) films in the franchise, and only one can truly be the best. In my humble, 18-year-old opinion, feel that Sharknado 2 does just enough to be the best of the films.
(Spoilers to come.)
What the second film is able to do so beautifully is blend humor, comedy and a sense of danger to every character except for the immediate family of Finn Shephard. The second is able to also mix the right number of big name actors and guest stars in the film, which is what makes it one of the biggest Oscar snubs of all time. With a name like Sharknado 2: The Second One, you can tell the cockiness of the producer, who knew he made an instant classic the moment he put pen to paper.
Just look at the names this man got to join in on the project: With Ohio University alum Matt Lauer, Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath, as well as former pitchman Jared Fogle from Subway, rapper Biz Markie, Kelly Osbourne, Shark Tank’s Daymond John and the entire cast of Good Morning America, the movie is packed with big names who all do crucial work in the film.
The issue is that the second film is just ever-so-slightly better than the others.
In the first film, it feels like it is almost serious, and countless plot advancements are just ignored. The third film tries too hard to be funny, and it kills off OHIO alum Matt Lauer, which is not allowed based on my "List of Reasons You Cannot Kill a Character," a list I developed mere minutes before writing this. The second film has every single trait necessary to make a classic. It is based in New York City, has love, drama, comedy, a washed up '90s singer, adventure and two reunited friends.
What the entire Sharknado series needs to do is look back at the second Sharknado and see the senseless fun that it was and replicate it. It is entertaining, as it's not too serious and allows you to laugh at the situation but never feel like it's forcing comedy or overpopulating the film with too many celebrities.
Though maybe not quite The Shawshank Redemption, the Sharknado series will hold a special spot in the heart of all millennials and T.V. watchers alike.
Tyler Corbit is a freshman studying journalism with a focus in strategic communication at Ohio University. Which Sharknado is your favorite? Let Tyler know by tweeting him @tylercorbit.
