I think Jaws 2 was a VERY satisfying and worthy film to the original and whoever thinks this movie sucks I can already see having a problem with other sequels as well.
Jaws 2 is one of the most underrated sequels of all time in my opinion.
I've always felt the same. It wasn't on the same level as the original (a nearly impossible feat to achieve), but it was a very enjoyable sequel. A very underrated sequel. People just like to jump on the hate bandwagon without thinking for themselves.
JAWS 2 is a decent movie, but when looked at as a sequel it loses a lot of luster. It is well made, looks good, and has a few suspenseful scenes, but it never taps into the dread and fear like the original. Tina's "Sh-sh-sh-shaaark!" does capture some of the feel, though.
I give Jaws 2 a C+ grade. It's got some good scares and thrills, and Scheider turns in a good performance. But it has some major problems: (1) Relative to the original film it is completely witless and devoid of humor, (2) Aside from Chief Brody, it replaced adult leading characters played by great actors with a heap of annoying teenagers mostly played by bad actors (except for Keith Gordon), and (3) Because the kids are so dopey, it's hard to care whether any of them live or die, thence reducing the tension significantly.
Watch any recent horror film with teenagers in and then watch Jaws 2 - the young cast are practically angels. They're there for one another, concerned for each other's safety, and they all act decently enough. Anything more recent goes to great lengths to make victims so unlikeable you *want* them to die.
Jackie is, of course, grating as hell, but it was '78 - the hysterical girl was a common inclusion.