VIDEO
Alligator
About this product:
As the title would suggest, "Alligator" (1980) is a "Jaws" rip-off nature-runs-amok flick, but "Alligator" only plays it semi-serious and is, in fact, a semi-spoof of "Jaws." You'll even hear Jaws-imitation suspense music as the creature approaches and attacks.
THE PLOT: A baby alligator is flushed down the toilet and mutates to great size from eating chemically contaminated dog carcasses in the sewers. A policeman and a beautful reptile expert team up to kill the beast after it starts eating people.
"Alligator" barely runs 90 minutes and is kind of boring for the first half hour, but the last hour perks up and keeps your attention. Unlike "Jaws," which is completely serious and scarey, most adults won't take "Alligator" too seriously or find it remotely scarey. In fact, I busted out laughing numerous times when the creature would attack people. Some understandably compare "Alligator" to "Piranha," which came out two years earlier in 1978, but "Piranha" takes itself a bit more seriously and is more entertaining overall. Actually, as far as creatures-on-the-loose flicks go, "Piranha" is a definite 5/5 Star piece.
What makes "Alligator" a necessary purchase is the awe-inspiringly gorgeous redhead Robin Riker, who doesn't appear until half an hour into the story. After that she's featured prominently. Robin was 28 years old at the time of release but possesses such a mature and classy air (I mean that in a good way, of course) that she seems at least 35.
Since the last hour of "Alligator" is worthwhile and fun I'll rate the story 3.5/5 Stars, even though it can't be taken seriously. Robin Riker, on the other hand, rates 5/5 Stars (actually there aren't enough stars in the universe!); hence, my overall 4/5 Star rating.
Men join in with me: Robin Riker, Robin Riker, Robin Riker, Robin Riker, Robin Riker, Robin Riker, Robin Riker (continue ad nauseam).
