The Shallows Movie Review

Blake Lively shines in The Shallows

Jaws 2.0

Rotten Tomatoes Plot: In the taut thriller The Shallows, when Nancy (Blake Lively) is surfing on a secluded beach, she finds herself on the feeding ground of a great white shark. Though she is stranded only 200 yards from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of Nancy's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

First, the obvious: The Shallows isn't (as good as) Jaws. Comparisons between the two aren't necessarily fair, but inevitable. That said, I highly recommend it... thanks to a breakout performance by Lively, and a bad-ass shark with a healthy voracious appetite. Blake's dynamite in (what amounts to) a one-woman show, balancing good looks, resourcefulness and the will to survive. Collet-Serra takes care of the rest, building suspense without compromising reality (save for Nancy's inexplicable lack of a ride back to her hotel.) There's even moments of levity (Steven Seagull) in between feedings, to let you catch your breath. Surf's up!

Grade: B