JAWS 2 (1978)

A few years after the original shark attacks, the seaside resort of Amity Island is finally getting back to normal and the future (with the help of new developer money) is looking bright...that is until some water skiers die in an "accident" and two divers disappear. Police Chief Brody, who got up close and personal with a great white shark in the original film, immediately thinks a shark is to blame, but the town council, fearing another mass exodus of tourist dollars, slams the iron fist down on him and fires him. He's bummed out and boozing hard, but when he discovers that his children are out on a group sailing trip, he throws his shit into high gear and goes out to kick some shark ass...or maybe just get himself eaten.

Successfully following up a smash hit is a hard job, but following up a smash hit that's also a very well-made film is damn near impossible. It's been done (ALIENS), but usually sequels end up just being watered down versions of the original. JAWS 2 is just a watered down version of the original, but it's still worth watching mainly due to the nice pace, a straight-forward story, likable teenagers, good kills and Roy Scheider reprising his role as Chief Brody.

One very interesting thing I did read on Wikipedia is that Steven Spielberg wrote a screenplay for JAWS 2 "based on Quint's Indianapolis speech" from the original film! Could that possibly be true and if so has that script ever seen the light of day? I would love to read it!

Anyway, JAWS 2 is definitely worth checking out.  Just make sure not to bump your head on that boom mic hanging down in Brody's kitchen.

Part 1 - Jaws (1975)
Part 3 - Jaws 3 (1983)
Part 4 - Jaws: The Revenge (1987)