Movie Review: The Shallows (PG13)

Guys, here's your excuse to ogle Blake Lively.

With Lively sporting a teeny-weeny bikini and the camera caressing her sun-kissed body, it's easy to forget that The Shallows is supposed to be a thriller and not a flick to raise her sex appeal even higher.

The plot is straightforward - a stranded surfer (Lively) uses her wits to make sure she doesn't become bait for a menacing great white shark.

Since her Gossip Girl days, Lively has matured into a formidable actress. The Shallows is a testament to how captivating she is - and I'm not talking about her physical beauty.

The story is silly at times, but there are enough thrills to keep you at the edge of your seat.

Like what Tom Hank did in Cast Away (2000) or her real-life husband Ryan Reynolds in Buried (2010), Lively shows she has what it takes to handle a one-woman show.

Rating: 3/5