The Specs
- Released July 31st, 2012 (Rental)/September 4th, 2012 (Retail)
- Rated R
- Running Time: 83 minutes
- Director: John Gulager
- Studio: The Weinstein Company
The Story
After their spring break extravaganza at Lake Victoria, the swarm heads upstream where they look to make a meal out patrons at a local water park.
The Cast
Danielle Panabaker as Maddy. She’s worked in horror movies like the 2010’s THE CRAZIES and the remake of FRIDAY THE 13th.
David Koechner as Chet. He’s appeared in several comedies, starting in 1995. Best known as Champ in the film ANCHORMAN.
Christopher Lloyd as Mr. Goodman. Veteran actor, his best known role is probably playing Doc Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, and reprising the role several times, including the Telltale Games video game adaptation.
David Hasselhoff as Himself. Got popularity in TV shows like Knight Rider and Baywatch, the latter of which he references in this movie.
The Dissection
In 2010, a movie named PIRANHA 3D was released. A remake of the 1978 movie PIRANHA, which dealt with an outbreak of Piranha that attack a heavily populated lake during a spring break party. The movie got some good reactions and made some money in the box office. Thi warrented a sequel, which is what we have today.
The Hoff, David Hasselhoff, on lifeguard duty as himself.
One drawback the movie has right off the bat is that the movie, like it’s predecessor, had the selling point of 3D. However, if you don’t own a 3D compatible TV and player, you have to watch the 2D version. A movie like this is usually best enjoyed when you have people around you to enjoy the insanity in the movie, as in a theater. It loses it’s luster being downgraded to 2D, especially in the name. PIRANHA DD, as written on the cover doesn’t come off right.
Getting into the movie, the movie knows what it wants to be. It’s a B-movie at heart, just like the last movie. Also like in the first one, it revels in the gore and violence, as well as the sex and nudity the movie is full off. That’s actually another issue, in that it leans heavily on the first movie, taking the same plot and the same overall style of the first. It doesn’t feel like a sequel as much as a retread. The water park setting of the movie doesn’t help. With the first movie and the lake, there was the sense of being in a wide open area, in the water, and even with thousands of people, still being isolated. There’s none of that in this one, as the water park is much smaller. The movie even lampshades how easy it would be for victims to just leave the pool, but doesn’t seem to address it.
The aforementioned D's.
The acting is sheer cheese, especially with some of the names in the cast. Hasselhoff especially works well, playing a bitter version of himself. Plus, you have Christopher Lloyd and Ving Rhames returning, in only small parts, but it does end up only serving to remind you of the first, and better, film. Really, everything about the film feels like a downgrade, from the acting and story, down to even the exploitation aspects of it.
The Extras
The movie features a commentary track, as well as a few special features that features some bloopers, videos highlighting some of the stars (David Hasselhoff, Gary Busey, and David Koechner), and a making of video.
The Verdict
If you’re someone who liked the first movie and want something more, rent this once and then watch the first movie again. It’s not an awful movie, but feels unneeded. Everyone else would probably be better served passing on this.
RENTAL (2/5)
Rent PIRANHA DD at Redbox
http://www.redbox.com/movies/piranha-dd
View Piranha DD at Amazon Instant
http://www.amazon.com/Piranha-3DD-2D-Theatrical-Rental/dp/B0085157B8/ref=tmm_aiv_title_0