Sharknado 2: The Second One: Shark + Tornado + New York = Awesome!

Sharknado 2: The Second One’s a ridiculously bad movie — but it’s also spectacularly well done and skillfully promoted! Please, let me defend this movie.

Why a Second One? Because Too Much Was Not Enough?

The very premise of a “sharknado” — a tornado full of sharks — is far-fetched and too much for some to take. Nevertheless, The Asylum and SyFy greeted the spinning shark vortex with open arms, and enough people enjoyed the carnage (and cartilage) that a sequel was quickly green lit.  The title itself is worth mentioning. Honestly, I think it’s one of the funniest titles of all time, and makes it obvious that the movie’s all in good fun.

What did the sequel promise? While the first Skarknado offered a Los Angeles sharknado, the new one would occur in New York City. Oh, and it also promised — and delivered — a lot of celebrity (and semi-celebrity) cameos. The main point, though, is that it’s fun to watch. For me, not a single cameo in this sequel seemed out of place. It all worked together blissfully, like the unexpected and unnatural dynamics of a sharknado itself.

Fin, taking care of some previously un-Fin-inished business. (Sharknado 2: The Second One, SyFy)

As the movie begins, the pro-sharknado fighter, Fin Shepard (Ian Ziering), and his ex-wife, April Wexler (Tara Reid), are flying to promote April’s book, “How to Survive a Sharknado and Other Unnatural Disasters” — which, by the way, an idiot like me would totally buy if they actually saw it on a shelf.

Anyway, in little time at all, the two look like sharknado magnets, as one has emerged nearby. It’s whipping sharks at their plane, damaging and engine and jeopardizing all on board. Sharks kill both pilots, and even flight attendant Kelly Osbourne isn’t safe. Even the main characters aren’t totally immune, as April herself loses a hand to a shark!

In fact, the danger isn’t just from sharks. Other marine life seems potentially deadly in Sharknado 2. In other words, for a movie that messes around, this isn’t a movie that messes around!

Even Minor Details are Major for Sharknado 2

As hinted at above, Sharknado 2 has countless highly memorable moments. This is undeniably part of its success. There isn’t a single superfluous scene that feels completely superfluous. Everything is geared to show the hugeness that is the sharknado epidemic.

You have Al Roker lending his credibility to describing the exotic weather phenomenon. The message? Weather men must face the weather! Lovable late ’80s rap icon Biz Markie randomly appears as a pizza chef. The message? Pizza chefs will not be spared! Downtown Julie Brown appears as a nurse, and Judd Hirsch appears as a memorable taxi driver (and, gee, I wonder why!).

Biz Markie, who could have said to the shark:  “Oh baby shark, You, you DON’T got what I nee-eed, so I put this knife right in, I put this knife right in…” (Sharknado 2: The Second One, SyFy)

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The message? No one is safe from a sharknado. Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray didn’t even seem out of place, especially after his fantastic, groan inducing line about jumping the shark. Then, to up the stakes, even Lady Liberty isn’t safe! Also, there is a delightful reference to Robert Hays’ character from Airplane!, delivered by Hays himself.

Yes, you do have a creep factor here, as pre-scandal Matt Lauer and Jared Fogle make an appearance, but what can you say? They weren’t scandalous at the time, and the sharknadoes are the biggest collective star of the franchise anyway — even bigger than Fin and April!

Final Thoughts

Though there was an “over-hype” factor during its original release, but this movie still swims and flies near to my heart. It is worth an occasional re-watch, both in spite of and because of certain flaws. Fin Shepard can kick a sharknadoes’ ass, but it isn’t easy. Like he said, “Even the Sharknadoes are tougher in New York.”

Next: The Joe Lansdale interview -- Part 2

What are your thoughts? Do you like Sharknado 2: The Second One, or was this disaster unwelcome in your living room? Let us know in the comments?