"Shark Night 3D" and "Prom"

IN THEATERS

Out this weekend in theaters is the horror/thriller, “Shark Night 3D.” Something’s in the water! The story focuses around a group of college friends who vacation at a lake house in Louisiana to relax and party. What starts out as a good time soon turns terrifying once they discover that man-eating sharks inhabit the saltwater lake. Little do they know, the sharks have purposely been put in this lake for a form of twisted entertainment. Let the screams begin!

It’s been a little while since we’ve had a creature feature hit the screens. Sure we’ve seen many versions of this over the years. “Snakes on a Plane” anyone? All of them should be taken with a grain of salt and not taken too seriously. They exist purely for the most laid-back type of entertainment. Especially the PG-13 ones. Which is what we are getting with this one.

We all know the formula: Happy teens looking for a wild weekend soon run into trouble and start getting picked off one by one. Screams and bloodshed commence. And then we get one, maybe two, survivors in the end. No rocket science here. Just good old cheesy horror fare.

It’s Labor Day weekend so teens in the mood for some laughing and screaming should get a kick out of this one. And the fact that it’s a 3-D adventure makes it even that much more appealing. Who doesn’t want a little shark action up close and personal?

"Shark Night 3D" trailer

ALSO IN THEATERS
• “Apollo 18”

ON DVD

Out this week on video is the family film, “Prom.” It’s that time of year! It’s nearing the end of the school year and all the senior’s have one thing on their mind — prom. The biggest night of their high school careers is upon them, and plans are abuzz.

Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden) is the class president and has been in charge of the entire event. She and her friends have been working tirelessly on decorations and plans for the big event and all is coming together perfectly. Then one night the shed which houses all the decorations catches on fire and destroys everything. Now Nova is left to quickly and desperately pull together a Plan B in just three weeks.

With her friends unable to devote full attention to the last minute project, the principal enlists the help of bad boy, Jesse Richter, to assist her as a means of punishment for his behavior at school.

And so what starts out as punishment for both soon turns enjoyable as the two get to know each other and form a close friendship. Meanwhile, all the other seniors are busy setting up their own plans for prom. Some relationships are ending and others are beginning, and after the big night is over, all will have plenty to talk about and remember forever.

So if the synopsis sounds like a cheesy movie, it’s because it is. Pure Disney entertainment. Family movie, indeed! This plays it very safe, hence the PG rating, and doesn’t offer any more or less than you might think. It houses the typical high school problems that anyone out of high school will laugh at for sure.

It’s safe and vacuous entertainment and will most likely be most enjoyed by the younger crowd — and by that I mean probably middle-schoolers. There’s no way a senior in high school will embrace this. Well, maybe but it’s unlikely. It’s not bad, just geared toward a younger audience. It’s sure to hit some notes for them.

"Prom" trailer

ALSO ON DVD
• “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family”