Crocodile (2000)

***Entertaining and re-watchable crocogator flick***

RELEASED TO VIDEO IN 2000, "Crocodile" chronicles events in Southern Cal when a bunch of college kids go out to a scenic vacation lake for Spring Break where they encounter a giant crocodile concerned about her eggs. To be expected in such a scenario the youths "party" and cuss a lot, so stay away if either offends you.

"Crocodile" was directed by Tobe Hooper, the hallowed director of the acclaimed "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974). I'm not a big fan of "Texas" (although I don't hate it either) and feel "Crocodile" is a more entertaining effort. These movies shouldn’t really be compared, however, since “Texas” is serious slasher horror whereas “Crocodile” was made to be more amusing.

There's a fake-looking CGI scene in the final act depicting the crocodile jumping over a boat that doesn't work at all, not to mention, it was highly unbelievable (of course, the WHOLE film is unbelievable, huh?). Other than that the F/X are fine for Grade B horror; in fact, the creature looks superb.

"Crocodile" may not be great cinema but it's got loads of energy and is amusing creature feature entertainment. Anyone watching a flick called "Crocodile" knows up front that it ain’t gonna be "Apocalypse Now." It's just a fun, re-watchable creature-on-the-loose flick highlighted by some curvy cuties: Sommer Knight as the stunning Sunny, Julie Mintz as the classy Annabelle and Caitlin Martin as the intelligent Claire. On the other side of the gender spectrum, Mark McLachlan stands out as the Tom Cruise-ish protagonist, Brady, and Chris Solari as the foil, Duncan. For comparison, "Crocodile" is overall way more entertaining than 1999's "Lake Placid" and superior to 1980’s “Alligator.” It’s easily one of the best crocogator flicks.

THE FILM RUNS 93 minutes and was shot at Lake Piru & Sable Ranch in Northern Los Angeles County and Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.

GRADE: A-