Film Review - Piranha 3D (2010)

(Edited, revised and reposted from August 21st, 2010)

"Piranha 3D" (2010) - This was my first 3D Theatrical experience since 1983’s double-feature of “Metalstorm” and “Jaws 3D“- overall, this most recent foray into the third dimension of celluloid was far more enjoyable. Boobs, blood and gore galore- what’s not to like?

In this very loose remake of Director Joe Dante's 1978 Horror/Comedy, "Piranha", Spring Breakers are besieged by ravenous, aquatic, pre-historic creatures that are released by an underwater cataclysm beneath the fictional Lake Victoria (Lake Havasu, Arizona). Fair Warning- this film features extremely graphic blood and gore with some decidedly blatant nudity… do not include the kids in your viewing experience! (The theater I was in at the time was full of 'em)

Although this film was shot with 3D in mind, the gimmick is a bit rickety and under-utilized here. I sat through previews to children’s movies like "Megamind" and "Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" (weird selection given the nature of the feature presentation) that looked absolutely amazing. Comparatively, the 3D here was a bit of letdown.

 The film clocks in at a swift 89 minutes- it’s a little too short for it’s own good. Some added characterization (across the board ) would have been nice and the curse of the typical horror-film ending strikes again. That said, the horror-protagonists-as-idiots factor is kept at a minimum, there are a number of inventive gore-effects and the creature design is rather impressive. It has a giddy fan-film feel to it that I appreciated.

Elisabeth Shue (Adventures In Babysitting) supplies the film's main heroine (no, not that type) as the town's Sheriff- at 46, she's as fit and as sexy as ever! That said, Brit Actress/Model Kelly Brook is stunningly gorgeous- most will remember the curvy actress involved in an extended sequence of nude underwater ballet... it's GLORIOUS!

There are a number of amusing cameos from Richard Dreyfuss (JAWS), Christopher Lloyd (Back To The Future), Director Eli Roth (Hostel), while a few adult-film actresses (Riley Steele, Gianna Michaels, Ashlyn Brooke) are strewn about the partying masses in various forms of undress.  Jerry O'Connell (Stand By Me) plays a seedy Joe Francis-type fairly well, though Ving Rhames's (Pulp Fiction) valiant Deputy is criminally underused.  Dina Meyer (Starship Troopers), a personal fave, is featured in a bewilderingly short role.

Although I'd consider the '78 film superior, Piranha 2010 is a passable creature-feature remake that, despite it’s many little problems, succeeds in being entertaining while also harrowing- that’s a helluva lot more than can be said of 90% of today’s horror entries.

7.5 out of 10

Director: Alexandre Aja
Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Ving Rhames, Jerry O'Connell, Kelly Brook, Adam Scott, Jessica Szohr, Steven R. McQueen, Eli Roth, Christopher Lloyd, Riley Steele, Dina Meyer, Brooklynn Proulx, Gianna Michaels, Greg Nicotero and Richard Dreyfuss
Run-Time: 88 minutes
MPAA: Rated R for sequences of strong bloody horror violence and gore, graphic nudity, sexual content, language and some drug use

Vintage posters of the 1978 film-

And one more good look at the creature design of the 2010 film-