Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Mississippi River Sharks’

Written by Scott Edwards

​There is nothing wrong with taking a step back from life to help out your family when needed. Having been in the situation more than once, it is important to remember that at some point you need to get back to taking care of yourself as well. Being there for your family in a time of need is great and they will appreciate it for the rest of their days. They will also understand if you are not able to help at all times, but sending your thoughts and prayers, even though not as effective, can be just as helpful as being there. Family first is something that I have always said and will never regret any choices I have made when living that motto.
​
Returning home from college, Tara Mitchell has some things to think about. Getting to spend time on the water with her father during the town’s fish rodeo, she will be able to talk through her decision to drop out of the science program and join the business side of things. But bringing up the topic herself, she sees the disappointment in her father Ray’s eyes and does not know what to do. With a plan in place to help the family out, Ray gets called away on business and not a moment too soon as Tara has run out of things to say.

Calling in the big guns for this year’s fish rodeo, Big Bill Braddock has a special announcement to make, Shark Bites star Jason London will be in attendance. Even though Jason is very late for his appearance, he does make it to the small town for nothing other than his fans and of course a paycheck. Seeing his hero in person, Wyatt is on cloud nine and cannot understand why everyone else is not loving this event as much as he is. With plans of winning the grand prize this year, Wyatt and his friend Eric will be staying in the harbor with plans of catching the biggest catfish and while there is a small bit of logic behind what they are attempting, they have no idea what the Mississippi River has in store for them and the town.

---

With reports of shark attacks further down the river, reporter Alison Harting is looking for the biggest story of her career, her first story in fact. Trying to pinpoint where the attacks are taking place, she is shocked to see that the sharks have come to her. After losing her camera man to a shark, she is forced to take matters into her own hands while shooting her story. Being on her own however is not good for the new reporter and finds that Ray is more than happy to keep her safe from the impending doom in the Mississippi. But Ray has priorities of his own and getting to his daughter is the first thing on his list and the sharks have become a close second.

Seeing the sharks making quick work of the fishermen on the river, Big Bill will not call off the fish rodeo for anything. But seeing how dangerous the situation is becoming, Tara, Eric and Wyatt decide to take matters into their own hands and Jason London will not let them face the threat alone, being a shark killer in the movies and all. Assuming the leadership role, Jason is ready to take the sharks head on, but he has no idea what he is really up against. Knowing that this is real life and no actor can save them, Tara takes control with a plan to contact all of the fishermen on the river before they get eaten and a way to rid the harbor of the all of the sharks once and for all.

I got a text saying that this movie was quote ‘all things Scotty’ and that is very true. Even though it seems unlikely that sharks would ever make their way up the Mississippi and start eating people, it is something that you should worry about when living by the water. How a small town would battle the sharks with what they have on hand is the magic of this movie and I never thought I would see a tow truck being turned into a massive fishing pole, but hey, it happened. The fun relationship between Wyatt and Eric is what really stole the story for me, especially with Wyatt’s love for the great Jason London and not wanting to lose his friend to a girl. The attempted romance between Eric and Tara was great as Tara liked to see how gullible her new suitor really was. Then you have international film legend Jason London stealing the show and I guess being himself. I have never seen him at a con before, but maybe sometime in the future he will make his way to my side of the river. With plenty of sharks, a cheating champion, international film legend Jason London, shark movie references, a power struggle, blood in the water and a budding relationship from high school, this is just a fun movie to sink your teeth into. Even though the sharks are not massive, it does not stop them from being a massive threat to the river and all those who dare to enter the water. It’s not the size of the shark that matters, is the motion of the… well you know, the jaws. Stay Scared.

---