Before you ask, the answer is no. The Meg is not a Family Guy spin off movie dedicated to our favorite Griffin. Starring Jason Statham as main character Jonas Taylor, the sci-fi action thriller hit theaters Aug. 10. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, The Meg is an adaptation of a best selling book by Steven Robert Alten.

The Meg centers around deep-sea rescue technician Jonas Taylor (Statham) and his dauntless mission to save his team from a broken submarine and the Carcharocles Megalodon, a prehistoric giant shark. In order to redeem himself from a tragic incident that caused Jonas to abandon half of his crew in the Mariana Trench, the Naval Captain must confront his fears to save the team and validate the existence of a seemingly extinct creature.

Critics are quick to compare The Meg to the cinematic masterpiece Jaws, released in theaters during the summer of 1975. Many comment on the movie’s originality and scientific credibility. However, I believe the mistake is planted in the comparison itself.

Jaws revolutionized the film industry with its fresh take on mystery and horror. The idea of a shark terrorizing mankind sparked a new era of similar narratives. Followed by the huge success of Jaws, numerous sequels were quickly released in subsequent years. The trend of shark movies continued with Deep Blue Sea (1999), Open Water (2003), Sharknado (2013), The Shallows (2016), and most recently, 47 Meters Down (2017). The Meg, however, does not fit into the same category from an artistic perspective.

The Meg features a Megalodon, a creature that roamed the oceans 2.6 million years ago. The movie strictly falls under the genre of fantasy. Instead of adhering to the horror aspects of many shark films and the original book by Alten, The Meg focuses on the action and thriller aspects purely for entertainment.

Yes, the character developments fall short at times. And yes, the movie is packed with science that did not make sense, but all the shortcomings contribute to the overall fast paced narrative of the movie. The Meg throws science and logic out the window to make room for a sensational popcorn action flick.

The Meg is not trying to make history; it is not trying to be an academy award-winning movie like Jaws; it is unapologetically itself, and that’s why I give it a 7/10. I recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a fun time!