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Sharknado 2: The Second One Blu-ray Review

By Rachel Cericola

The Film

"Why aren't we having more fun with this?"

If you're wondering why the SyFy channel's Sharknado is such a phenomenon, you've already spent too much time thinking about Sharknado. This is the type of movie that's best served with no thought at all.

It's one of those movies that's so bad -- well, it's bad. But that doesn't mean it's not fun. And frankly, if Troll can have a sequel, then so can Sharknado. However, Sharknado 2: The Second One has more ridiculous dialogue, more famous faces, and more insane moments than SyFy has ever aired before. (And that's really saying something, considering that the network has spawned such classics as Sharktopus, Frankenfish and Megapython vs. Gatoroid).

First the plot (yes, it has one!): A category seven hurricane brings tons of rain, tons of sharks, and tons of celebrity cameos. Everybody who used to be anybody seems to show up for free craft services and the possibility of getting a catchphrase in Sharknado 2.

Fin (Ian Ziering) and April (Tara Reid) are still... well, they're something. They're a couple and they're not a couple. They're certainly not good actors, but they seem to travel nicely together. She's the author of the hit Sharknado survival guide after making it through the California Sharknado. The fact that Tara Reid is playing an author really deserves its own SyFy spin-off movie, because it's more unbelievable than Piranhaconda. However, the hero is and always will be Fin, who is accompanying April to the Big Apple for a book signing. Hopefully she packed a few extra copies, because this book is about to become very handy. Yes, a Sharknado is a-coming, friends. Thankfully, Fin was born to be the hero.

Sharknado2-Ziering.jpg
Ian Ziering slices and dices his way through "Sharknado 2: The Second One." Photo: SyFy/Asylum.

Oh sure, the movie is stupid from the get-go and it doesn't make any attempts to get better as time marches on. Fin froggers over sharks, there are dueling chainsaws in the sky, Al Roker makes Sharknado predictions, the Statue of Liberty loses her head, and Biz Markie even cooks up shark in a pizza oven. However, all of these insane scenarios aren't half as insane as the dialogue that's flowing throughout the film's 95 minutes.

With a title like Sharknado 2, you should expect this sequel to be bad. However, the plot and the special effects aren't half as bad as the plastic surgery. (There is so much plastic surgery on display here.) It's awesome seeing all of those faces, though; it's all part of the "charm." Sharknado 2 has more famous faces from yesteryear than a very special episode of The Love Boat. It also has a ton of nods to disaster movies and is just plain fun. Turn off your brain and enjoy.

The Picture

If you watched one of the many TV broadcasts of this movie, you pretty much know what you're getting into here. The 1.78:1 image is best during its many close-ups. Veins pop out of Ian Ziering's head, skin is pulled super tight, and the Today show comes off like you're watching from the street. However, there are a lot of soft moments, too. Frankly, it's hard to tell if any of those shots are intentional, given some of the plastic surgery on the film's lengthy cast and all of the cheesy special effects. That said, it certainly doesn't make the viewing experience any less enjoyable. In fact, it just adds to the appeal.

The Sound

Sharknado 2 comes with a lone DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and (assuming you're a fan of the flick) it's probably the most disappointing part of this release. Sure, there's thunder, rain and all of the other sounds that accompany a Sharknardo are plentiful and the dialogue is always crisp. On a whole though, the track is a bit on the flat side. Beyond the opening scene, there aren't too many immersive moments.

The Extras

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In keeping with the Sharknado spirit, the Sharknado 2 Blu-ray appears to be low-budget on the surface. It doesn't come with a standard-def DVD or a digital copy. However, there's a pretty lengthy collection of extras inside. Sharknado 2 comes with not one, but two commentary tracks. There's also a Gag Reel, a 10-minute making-of featurette, a little over 8 minutes of extras, and a few more minutes on the special effects. Of course, Sharknado 2 would not be as awesome as it is without all of the cameos, so there's almost 11 minutes on that as well.

Final Thoughts

Sharknado 2 is not the type of movie that you should watch alone. It's not because it's scary; it's because you're going to need someone to bounce jokes off of. There's no way you can get through this thing without a few snarky comments. It would be perfect fodder for a summer party and an outdoor theater. The Blu-ray is decent, but it doesn't even matter. For fans of bad movies, Sharknado 2 is a must-own.

Product Details

  • Actors: Ian Ziering, Vivica A. Fox, Mark McGrath, Kari Wuhrer, Tara Reid
  • Director: Anthony C. Ferrante
  • Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English)
  • Subtitles: None
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Rating: NR
  • Studio: Asylum Home Entertainment
  • Blu-ray Disc Release Date: October 7, 2014
  • Run Time: 95 minutes
  • List Price: $19.93
  • Extras:
    • Director's Commentary with Ian Ziering and Tara Reid
    • Filmmaker's Commentary
    • The Making of Sharknado 2
    • Chomp: The Evolution of Sharknado 2 Visual Effects
    • Shark Chum: From the Cutting Room Floor
    • Cameos: I Can't Believe They Got
    • Gag Reel
    • The Asylum Trailers

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