Big Shark

In order to fully appreciate this film you need two things. Lots of drink before it starts and a decent amount of audience participation. That's because it's terrible. Now I know that the creator of "The Room" (2003) was unlikely to deliver us an award-winning epic, but I think even I was disappointed by just how poor this is. When New Orleans is threatened not only by rising flood waters, but by a menacing shark it falls to three highly decorated fire-fighters to find away to save their city. The acting and dialogue are like a very bad rehearsal for a "Bill & Ted" film, the visual effects stop being entertaining fairly quickly and that just leaves us with a mess of a movie that all-too-often just made me cringe. Tommy Wiseau is clearly a shrewd man, but this attempt to make a silk purse from a sow's ear is just risible on about every level and even with ensemble guffaws of embarrassment from the other suitably lubricated folks in the cinema it becomes pretty much unwatchable. A parody of many other films, it may be trying to be - but for me, well it's just not funny!

"Big Shark" splashes into the shark movie genre with a unique twist that's as unpredictable as its enigmatic creator, Tommy Wiseau. I had the privilege of catching its Canadian premiere amidst a sea of enthusiastic "The Room" aficionados, with Greg Sestero himself gracing the event. The energy in the theater was electric, resembling a blend of chaos and jubilation.

What sets "Big Shark" apart is its embrace of audience participation. While cult classics like "Rocky Horror" and "The Room" boast established interactive rituals, this film dared fans to improvise, test waters, and discover what tickled their funny bones. The result? A cacophony of laughter, occasional dialogue drowning in the uproar, and surprisingly, impromptu musical renditions echoing throughout the theater. Yes, singing took center stage alongside the film's antics.

Unlike its predecessor, "The Room," "Big Shark" feels purposefully engineered for audience engagement. Tommy Wiseau, the mastermind behind this madness, seemingly orchestrated this pandemonium intentionally (or did he?). His deliberate or perhaps serendipitous inclusion of participatory elements pays off handsomely, elevating the viewing experience to an interactive extravaganza.

For fans of "The Room" or anyone reveling in the delight of interactive cinema, "Big Shark" is a must-watch. Wiseau's creation, arguably the apex predator of shark movies in 2023, swims circles around the disappointing "Meg 2." I left the theater eagerly anticipating a second viewing, a sentiment echoed by the audience around me.

"Big Shark" isn't just a movie; it's an event. Dive into this cinematic whirlpool if it graces your city-you're guaranteed a rollercoaster of hilarity and, dare I say, a newfound appreciation for shark-themed mayhem.

Very very enjoyable with a big audience. Everyone was cheering and laughing. Tommy was in the crowd and loving it. Please watch this with friends or a giant crowd. The movie itself was unfinished, but that made it even better for the audience. The cgi for the shark was so funny, and at times wasn't even finished. Like one shot would have the big shark, and the next it wasn't there. Was definitely an interesting movie. Tommy really outdid himself with it, and I loved every second. 10/10 perfect movie watch with friends and get drunk. Tommy is also an awesome man who is so very strange but wonderful. I love him.

For years, fans of Tommy Wiseau have been waiting for the release of Big Shark. A trailer was dropped, then the project seemed to be on hold, up next it appeared to be canceled, suddenly a new trailer dropped and the film was finally released last year. It was a unique experience watching this film at Ottawa's legendary Mayfair Theatre with much crowd participation and a few drinks beforehand. This is the exact attitude you need when watching Big Shark. This film is so absurd that it requests a complete suspension of disbelief to take this feature humorously. Otherwise, you will get frustrated by the movie's excessively weird characters, terrible dialogues filled with stunning grammatical mistakes and paper-thin plot that doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

To keep it short, this movie revolves around three firefighters who spend their time partying, hitting on women and drinking booze every single day. One day, one of these firefighters named Patrick claims to have spotted a thirty-five-foot shark in a muddy lake that he calls a river for unfathomable reasons. His friends don't believe him but soon a gigantic shark surfs through New Orleans on randomly appearing rivulets of water. For vague reasons, the three firefighters decide to kill the shark as the military and police don't intervene at all. They decide to catch three pigs as bait for the shark that they ultimately decide not to use. Instead, they get a dead pig at a butcher's place, fill it with blood and dynamite and launch it on a rubber dinghy to kill the shark.

For those who are not familiar with Tommy Wiseau's work yet, there are several reasons why people enjoy watching his movies. First of all, his movies are so uniquely bad that they don't compare to anyone or anything else. Even other controversial directors look like experienced geniuses next to Tommy Wiseau. Up next, these movies are so hilariously bad that they are genuinely entertaining as viewers will come back revisiting them by remembering their favourite worst scenes, plot twists and awkward dialogues. The characters in his movies stand out because they act entirely irrationally and sometimes change their attitudes, behaviours and mindsets from one minute to the other. The technical aspects of the movies also leave a lot to be desired as the shifts in the sound department are excessive, lighting work at times blinds the audience and the settings offer numerous awkward choices.

You might now wonder why people watch a movie like Big Shark that sounds bad on paper and is actually even worse than you expect it to be. This movie offers unparalleled escapism and invites for a light-hearted fun ride that is best enjoyed with a few drinks and friends. I have watched The Room time and again and would watch it again in a heartbeat. Big Shark is even more consistent in its absurdity and thus appeals even more to me. I'm prepared to return to the cinema to watch this film again, I would purchase it physically to enjoy it at home and I have written this review to promote this weird masterpiece to the entire world.

For those who are already familiar with the works of Tommy Wiseau, this movie is everything you expect it to be and might even exceed your expectations as you will be crying tears of joy while watching this unbelievable cinematic accident.

As for Tommy Wiseau himself, I have nothing but genuine respect for him as I sincerely admire his resilience at creating movies despite innumerable obstacles. This man deserves recognition because he is living his dream and has offered hours of comedic entertainment to fans from all around the world. I would like to encourage him to continue doing his work as long as he wants to as I'm willing to give all of his releases a shot.

On a closing note, I would rather watch a ridiculous but entertaining, funny and sympathetic movie such as Big Shark than an intellectual but depressing, overlong and pretentious feature such as the heavily overrated Anatomy of a Fall.

Tommy Wiseau's latest horror monster film is an enjoyable ride that's true to his signature style, with nods to his cult classic 'The Room.' The film's imperfections add to its charm, and it's clear that Tommy put a lot of heart into it. The story and characters are well-crafted and entertaining, making up for any limitations in the movie's budget. Best watched with friends, you'll laugh, sing along, and maybe even shout at the screen. If you're a fan of Tommy's previous work or simply looking for something different in the horror genre, this film is worth checking out. But be warned, seeing this movie in theaters may turn into a midnight rocky horror style experience that you won't forget anytime soon.