[pullquote cite=”” type=”left, right”][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=That Film Guy&asin=B0047WU2AU][/pullquote] The Piranha franchise has always occupied an odd state within film history. They are obviously played as b-movies, but they have always had top quality actors or directors littered throughout. The original in 1978, was directed by Joe Dante of Gremlins and The Hole in 3D fame. The sequel boasts the accomplishment of being James Cameron’s feature film directing debut and the 1995 remake introduced the world to a young Mila Kunis. This brings us to 2010 and yet another remake of the original, Piranha 3D.
Jake Foster (Steven R. McQueen) is a young American teenager, obsessed with girls and having sex. His mother Julie (Elisabeth Shue) leaves him to babysit his little brother and sister, but instead he rushes off with sleazy film-maker Derrick Jones (Jerry O’Connell) to watch the making of a sex tape. Whilst getting caught up in the spring break atmosphere, no one realises that beneath the water lurk hundreds of flesh-eating piranhas and when they attack all hell breaks loose.
The plot as it is relies heavily influenced by the original film, and any attempt to give any character depth outside of the obvious clichés is quickly forgotten. But that’s not what films like this are made for. They are solely an excuse to show naked people and violent, gory deaths. It’s here that Piranha excels. From bikini babes being scalped, to a floating penis in the water, there is no base level that the film won’t sink to. It’s all played for fun rather than suspense and the acting is as overblown as the premise.
So how do you rate a film like this? It’s obviously terrible from a technical point of view, but it’s so ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh at the increasingly outrageous scenarios playing out in front of you. There are cameos from some cult Hollywood figures like Christopher Lloyd and Richard Dreyfuss, plus Kelly Brook dancing in a bikini if that takes your fancy?
Overall it is throw-away film-making at its most silly. You won’t learn anything and it won’t blow you away, but it will make you laugh and it’ll be remembered longer than the more mediocre drama and ˜worthy films.’
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