You Do Want to Watch Blake Lively Fight a Shark in "The Shallows"

In spite of its threats, "The Shallows" is a relief from summer sequels and superhero flicks.

By Lauren Yoshiko

In spite of the worrying combination of Blake Lively, a computer-generated shark, and director Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax), many critics welcomed The Shallows as a relief from the sequels and summer superhero flicks. But drone shots of an aquamarine coastline do not a good film make. The story follows basic action-movie format: Nancy (Blake Lively) is taking time off from med school to retrace her late mother's surfing tour through Mexico. Once you make it past the ill-fitting techno music as Nancy paddles into the break and a hungry shark strands her on a rock, the film grows into a decent thriller. Lively plays the everywoman without gratuitous sexuality, using quick thinking to survive. The Shallows is at its best when teasing the audience with underwater shots, only occasionally showing Nancy tumbling into coral-crusted rocks as her shark bite emits red clouds of blood.

Rated PG-13

Critic's Grade: C+

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Lauren Yoshiko

Lauren Yoshiko

Lauren has contributed to the Willamette Week's weed column since 2013, initially going by "Mary Romano" until marijuana became legal in Oregon. She also writes about movies, plays and restaurants for the Art and Culture section.

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