The Meg: 7 Reasons It's The Best Dumb Movie Of 2018
4. Statham's Character Makes No Sense
Jason Statham plays exactly the same character in every single movie he's in - a cocksure, likeable, rough-around-the-edges Brit - and The Meg is no different. But here, the way his Jonas Taylor is set up and developed is completely lacking in logic.
About thirty minutes in, we're transported to Thailand and re-introduced to Taylor. Here, we learn that he lives in a run-down flat, has low self-esteem, and isn't the most polite chap around. Then, we learn that he likes beer. We learn that he really likes beer. In fact, that's all he does; drink beer and lie around at the local bar.
Taylor is classic Statham, that stereotypically gruff Brit we've all come to expect him to play, because he does it so well. But minutes later, the character changes completely, and stays this way for the rest of the film.
Despite the obvious health problems consistently drinking alcohol would bring - by all accounts, Taylor should be incredibly unfit, out of shape and mentally unstable - he's suddenly able to pass a medical check, and later makes quick, high pressure-decisions - and performs incredible physical feats - with ease.
In fact, the character is in perfect form, with sculpted abs, rock-hard pecs and the brave, intelligent constitution typically found in American action heroes, not the husky Brits that Statham plays so well. He switches from the latter to the former as soon as the Thailand scene is over.
It's like the filmmakers said "well, he's British and sounds like a football hooligan, better slap a bottle of beer in his hand!" Or, perhaps the Taylor we met in Thailand is a remnant of the movie's edgier R-rated cut, before the character was turned into a cleaner action hero for the PG-13 version. Who knows. Either way, it's dumb.