Directed by: John Gulager
Written by: Joel Soisson, Marcus Dunstan, Patrick Melton
Starring: Chris Zylka, Christopher Lloyd, Danielle Panabaker, David Hasselhoff, David Koechner, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Katrina Bowden, Matt Bush, Meagan Tandy, Paul Scheer, Sierra Fisk, Ving Rhames
MPAA Rating: R
Piranha 3DD is the direct sequel to the Piranha remake Piranha 3D. This time the action is centered on the Big Wet water park, far enough from Lake Victoria to assume they are safe. The park has fallen into the hands of Maddy’s (Panabaker; Sky High, Friday The 13th remake) step-father Chet (Koechner; Anchorman, Thank You For Smoking) who has made a large portion of the park into an adults only water park. Maddy along with her friends must try and stop the piranha from attacking on the opening day.
I really loved Piranha 3D. They really got that movie right. They got the comedy and the campiness and the gore and everything to just make it an over the top movie that was incredibly fun. I was actually really glad they were making a sequel for it. And this sequel brings us more of what we got last time. If you go into this expecting a serious horror film, you’ll be very disappointed. But if you want some fun and cheesiness, you’ve come to the right place.
The idea of the adult water park is brilliant and hilarious, as is Koechner’s lecherous character who is played to perfection. The setting also really reminded me of the plot of Jaws 3 (also originally in 3D), which is held at a Sea World-esque park. So bonus points for that reference. There is an enormous amount of all the things that make a B-movie like this great. Lots of nudity, lots of humor, and lots of gore. Just tons and tons of gore. The absolutely most memorable scene in the movie involves Katrina Bowden’s character (3o Rock, Tucker & Dale vs Evil) and is just totally insane. Also what’s a B-movie like this without David Hasselhoff as himself? He should be given a lot of credit for the wonderful self parody he does here.
Returning as their characters from Piranha 3D are Ving Rhames, Christopher Lloyd, and Paul Scheer. Sheer and Rhames are now a team that go around traumatized by the events of the first film, Rhames now without legs. And Lloyd serves as the mad scientist who explains lots of the plot. He’s actually a much bigger character in this one and lays out a ton of exposition really well.
The movie is really just non-stop fun and I recommend checking it out as soon as you can.
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Thanks for reviewing Piranha 3DD, Jason. I ordered 3DD just before leaving my office at DISH last night, and it was ready to watch in 3d from my Hopper DVR when I got home. I thought the first movie paid homage to creature feature B movies and it did so very well. While I love the idea of an adult water park (I have long been wishing that Denvers’ own Water World offer “after hours” for adults), I don’t think was as good as the first. 3DD was fun and offered a few B movie in jokes but beyond that I think it would have been better if they brought back the original director. Maybe he will direct the third movie?
I have to say, everyone I’ve told the plot to has unanimously said they thought and adults only water park (or section of one, or time of one) would be brilliant. There’s something to be said for that idea.
I think there’s one down in Texas that has a swim up bar but I am not sure. I would love to lie around in a lazy river with a margarita to waste away a day in the sun. All it would take is a waiver which says something to the effect of “I/ My family will not sue the water park if I drunkenly injure my self or drown. I also promise to vacate the pool when it comes time to vacate my bladder.” I would quickly sign on the dotted line if it meant I could enjoy some inebriated water world fun.