Sharknado 5: Global Swarming

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming is a satirical disaster film from 2017, directed by Anthony C. Ferrante. The movie is the fifth installment in the famous Sharknado franchise that began in 2013, with the series becoming synonymous with cheesy dialogues, outrageous plotlines, and over-the-top animal-inspired disasters. It offers a repeating spectacle of sharks lifted by tornadoes causing destruction on an incredibly large scale and taking on well-known landmarks in the process.

Ian Ziering and Tara Reid reprise their roles as Fin Shepard and April Wexler. Scerbo returns as Nova Clarke, a character surely loved by fans of the franchise. These characters are charged with battling the global turmoil caused by the Sharknado, a whirlwind of living, chomping sharks.

The film starts with the Shepards visiting London for a meeting with NATO, but their trip soon turns into a disaster when a Sharknado strikes the city, leading to the destruction of countless landmarks and disappearing their son, Gil Shepard (Billy Barratt). The incident results in the Shepards traversing around the world in a desperate, eccentric, and action-packed quest to rescue their son.

Sharknado 5: Global Swarming presents the most widespread version of preposterous destruction yet, taking viewers on a whirlwind tour of the world. The plotline includes dispatches from countries like Australia, Egypt, and Japan, turning each national monument into a backdrop for mayhem. From the Great Wall of China to the Sphynx of Egypt to the Vatican City, none of them are safe from the shark-infested cyclone. Fragments of the global landmarks are featured under great distress followed by cataclysmic damage that pushes the audience's suspension of disbelief to a whole new level.

Apart from the primary trio, we also see a slew of guest roles peppering the film, which include Fabio playing the Pope, Charo as the Queen of England, Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk as a weapons operative, to name just a few, each adding another layer of absurdity to this zany spectacle.

Although the movie is packed with outlandish scenarios, Ferrante still manages to give some heartfelt moments through the Shepards' attempts to save their child. Meanwhile, Scerbo delivers a compelling performance as Nova, intertwining her tough-girl persona with a subtle vulnerable side that creates a multi-dimensional character, helping flesh out the film's more human side amidst all the shark-fueled chaos.

Furthermore, the film does a commendable job of amplifying its visual effects - the absurdity of the Sharknado might be ludicrous on its own, but the high-octane disaster scenes are exquisitely pieced together that make it incredibly entertaining for its core audience. The filmmakers know their niche, and they cater to it with utter enthusiasm.

Like its predecessors, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming is signage of pure madness and chaos. However, it's the type of film that doesn't want you to take it seriously, instead, it invites the viewers to give in to the ludicrousness and enjoy the ride. The film's self-awareness is its most significant strength; the series knows its absurd, and it revels in it, making it an entertaining view at the least.

Moreover, the soundtrack is also worth mentioning, providing additional fuel to the successive sequences of far-fetched destruction. With songs like "The Ballad of Sharknado," the music concurrently accompanies and bolsters the film's overblown concept.

Throughout its runtime, Sharknado 5 engrosses viewers with its laughable dialogue, campy special effects, and barely-believable scenarios. It is a bonafide b-movie that is inherently episodic and keenly aware of its iconic status in the eyes of its fans. The film is brimming with the signature style of the franchise, designed to engage with the most absurd disaster scenarios possible, which holds a unique appeal for the viewers who enjoy a shlocky feast of outrageous proportion.

To sum it up, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming is an audacious and entertaining ride. While it may be criticized for its exaggerated plotlines, cheesy dialogues, low-budget look, and almost comical special effects, these very elements give it a unique charm that captivates a surprisingly large audience.