There was potential for Jaws 3. The original title, Jaws 3, People 0, would have made it the greatest film ever just based on the title. Anyone involved knew there was nowhere left for the series to go. Let's all take a moment to thank Universal for shooting that idea down and leaving us scarred for life with this disaster.
Instead of a giant shark on a rampage movie, viewers are forced to sit through an extended commercial for Sea World, including multiple montages of the attractions. It takes forever to get going, and the real threat doesn't show up until past the hour mark. This could have the same effect the original Jaws did, but the characters are dull, boring, and exposition is lackluster.
All of this is played straight by the cast, including Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. The body count here is meager, barely reaching a suitable number the audience can be scared over. Connections to the previous films are meager, and only seem to exist in the names of the Brody boys. Even that's a stretch.
The idea is actually a decent one, involving the oversized shark attacking a new underwater exhibit. This fails thanks to the special effects, which couldn't be anymore obvious. When the film was released, it used the 3-D gimmick, and without it on video or TV, they stick out in hilarious fashion.
Besides the few blatantly obvious effect shots, there's a rubber baby shark used for most of the film (or just poorly edited real shark footage). This is one of the most immobile, ugly, and fake-looking props ever used in a major Hollywood movie. Where the $20 million budget went is anyone's idea.
It definitely didn't go towards fact checking. It completely ignores common knowledge about sharks (they can't swim backwards). It also ignores any knowledge about what makes something like this entertaining. This is a wasted opportunity, and with a Jaws film like this, the people will always lose. (* out of *****)
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
You're are right about the poor quality of the JAWS sequels, and it is really surprising. Since the original movie was such a high quality production, it doesn't make sense that Universal allowed the series to go into such a tailspin.
The big problem is the mystery was over. In the first one, we only got scared about the shark but didn't see it right away (until the Sheriff tells Quint, "I think we're gonna need a bigger ship.")
Anyway, your review is on the money.
2 - Victor Plenty
Boat! Gonna need a bigger boat, ye scurvy lubber!
Kids these days! What next?
"Frankly my dear, I don't give a hoot."
-- Gone With the Wind
"Here's looking at you, babe."
-- Casablanca
"I'll be returning momentarily."
-- The Terminator
3 - Jones Violet
""I'll be returning momentarily."
-- The Terminator"
Hilarious!
I didn't know there were so many Jaws movies. This kind of makes me want to rent them all and have a big ol' Cheese Fest Night, though.