While Calvin and Hobbes romp through the leaves, Andy informs them that there's a sequel to The Incredible Hulk (2008) coming out. They're none to happy with this, seeing how the original was terrible, and it doesn't look like the new one's gonna be much better. Calvin attempts to write his own movie - Tornado Sharks.
Unfortunately, his attempts to get it actually made are rejected by all the major film companies, so he decides to make his own. Eventually, he just scraps it, and decides to make a Stupendous Man movie instead!
Socrates directs the film, which involves Mom Lady (later "The And-EE" thanks to Executive Meddling) stealing all the water from the world, and Stupendous Man and Tiger Lad stopping her. Unfortunately, an unintentional prank ends up destroying everything, but Calvin pushes onwards.
The film itself isn't all that good, but Calvin goes off to write the sequel nonetheless.
Tropes:
- Author Tract/The Rant: A rather impassioned speech about movies from Calvin could count as either:"Who cares? It's disgusting that they'll put out just anything these days. It used to be a high standard, but now everything is driven by test audiences and marketing. Citizen Kane, one of the greatest films of all time, probably couldn't get made today.
The studios would want to make the main character a teenager, add some car chases and cleavage, toss in a few explosions, and maybe even Jackie Chan! …I'm not saying he's bad; he just wouldn't fit into that type of film." - Based on a Dream: In-Universe - "Tornado Sharks" is based off one of Calvin's nightmares.
- Based on a Great Big Lie: Parodied In-Universe - "Tornado Sharks" is apparently based on a true story. Hobbes is not amused."A tornado shark takes out the Eiffel Tower in the first act!"
- Cutaway Gag: Showing the producers of the second Hulk movie.
- Department of Redundancy Department: "Hobbes, it's drinkable drinking water that's being drank by people."
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: "Tornado Sharks".
- Gratuitous Spanish: Hobbes asks "Que pasa, Mufasa?".
- Metaphorgotten:Calvin: Kinda rolls of the tongue!
Hobbes: Just like drool. - Movie-Making Mess: The episode's main plot.
- Mythology Gag: Both the title and Calvin reference one of the author's previous C&H fics - Wild Movie Collection
, in which the duo act out several action movie scenes. - Oddly Named Sequel 2: Electric Boogaloo: Parodied In-Universe with Hulk 2: Electric Boogaloo.
- And then there's "TORNADO SHARKS 2: I THINK THINGS JUST GOT A LITTLE MORE WINDY"...
- Overly Long Gag: Calvin finding the movie distributors' opinions of "Tornado Sharks":"Let's see… Paramount says I'm too young, Universal says it's too expensive, Disney says it stinks, Miramax says it's stupid, Columbia says it won't go, Fox is just advertising, Pixar says to keep dreaming, DreamWorks says it's a nightmare,Gramercy won't give us enough freedom, Spy Glass says it is shattered, and Warner Brothers won't take anything without Bugs Bunny in it."
- Tagline: In-Universe with "Tornado Sharks":Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of tornados? Sharks. That's what.
- Take That!: So many...
- The opening has Calvin upset about a sequel for The Incredible Hulk (2008) being made.
- Then there's this:
Calvin: The next step is to find someone to direct it. M. Night Shyamalan will be able to give TORNADO SHARKS the subtle treatment and layered texture that a story like this deserves. But it might require the adrenaline shots of bombastic thrillery that only Michael Bay could deliver.
Hobbes: I was kind of picturing TORNADO SHARKS as a Merchant Ivory production.
Calvin: Okay, now you're just poking fun. - Twist Ending: Calvin wants one of the titular "Tornado Sharks" to discover his inner child near the end. Andy suggests that he find out that it was just some kid he ate.
