Syfy definitely jumps the shark in 'Sharknado 3'
NEW YORK — The pun is as fitting as it is inevitable, so let’s go ahead and get it out of the way: “Sharknado 3” has definitely jumped the shark.
It airs at 9 p.m. today on Syfy.
Two years ago, the original “Sharknado” film depicted a weather aberration on the Southern California coast that caused bloodthirsty sharks to cascade on hapless Angelenos. But hunky beach-bar owner Fin Shepard (get it?) saved the day with a makeshift shark explosion. Both as cinema and marine biology, “Sharknado” was gleefully idiotic while sinking its teeth in the funny bones of every viewer in its path. A horror-spoof franchise was born.
For last summer’s emphatically titled sequel, “Sharknado 2: The Second One,” Fin was back. Again played by “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum Ian Ziering, he headed to New York for quiet post-sharknado repose with his beloved, April (Tara Reid). But an even bigger, badder sharknado storm awaited him in the Big Apple, where he rallied take-no-guff New Yawkers in a feisty counterstrike. “Sharknado 2” was a hilarious treat.
Now comes the incredibly aptly titled “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!”
First problem: the story centers on a bigger-than-ever shark attack along the entire east coast. This sounds epic in theory, but in practice only waters down the action, with Washington quickly left in ruins before the mayhem shifts to South Florida.
Another problem: The film forgot to be funny. Perhaps the most clever touch lampoons the through-the-gun-barrel point-of-view with which every James Bond film begins, but that gag is over in the film’s opening seconds.
As with its predecessors, the film is chock-full of odd-ball guest roles and cameos.
Mark Cuban is frighteningly credible as the president, with Ann Coulter his vice president.
Other guest stars include Bo Derek, David Hasselhoff, Frankie Muniz, Penn Jillette and Teller, Lou Ferrigno, and former Congressman Anthony Weiner.
As before, this film heavily promotes Syfy sister network NBC. The sharknado siege is “covered” by NBC News personalities Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker. This was funny before, but feels uncomfortable now as NBC News struggles to restore its credibility after Brian Williams’ story-fudging fiasco.
