A massive crocodile has been found living in a secluded lake in Maine, prompting a disparate group to band together with the goal of either capturing or eliminating it: the local Sheriff, portrayed by Brendan Gleeson; a Fish and Game officer, Bill Pullman; a paleontologist, Bridget Fonda; and an experienced crocodile hunter, Oliver Platt. Betty White appears as a humorous resident who lives on the lake. “Lake Placid” (1999) is considered the best entry in the series primarily because it was the only film to be shown in theaters—and its $35 million budget was roughly 17.5 times greater than any of the five subsequent installments, which were made with television-level funding; for example, “Lake Placid 2” cost just $2 million to produce. With such a substantial sum invested in what is essentially a lower-tier monster movie, the crocodile looks impressive compared to the cartoonish computer graphics used in the sequels. The cast is quite good as well, and the dialogue is clever, although it moves quickly so you have to pay attention. It shouldn’t be taken seriously as a suspenseful creature-on-the-loose film like “Prophecy” (1979) or “Black Water” (2007), because its humor is intentionally understated. Films such as “Crocodile” (2000), “Humanoids from the Deep” (1980), and “Piranha” (1978/1995) are far more intense in comparison. However, if you can accept it for what it is, it’s genuinely funny, and you begin to believe in the characters and their situation. Although their relationships are marked by constant disagreement, and the elderly woman uses colorful language, the movie has a certain charm; just stick around until the end. Bridget Fonda particularly stands out among the female performers. She was 34 years old during filming and would only make seven more movies (two of which were for television) before stepping away from acting to raise her family—she also worked on two TV series at that time. While some viewers find her character irritating in “Lake Placid,” it’s easy to understand given what was happening in her life, combined with being out of place and camping in the wilderness; moreover, she becomes more likable as the story progresses. Meredith Salenger plays Deputy Gare, and Natassia Malthe appears as Janine, the latter in a small role, also contributing to the film's feminine presence. Both are pleasant and attractive. I didn’t have strong positive memories of this movie because of its dry humor and clashing personalities, but I understood it better this time around and really enjoyed it for what it is: an amusing creature feature with a substantial theatrical budget. If you enjoy this one, be sure to check out “Lake Placid 2” (2007), as it’s a worthwhile continuation, despite costing only a small fraction of the original's price. The film runs for 1 hour and 22 minutes. It was filmed at Buntzen Lake in British Columbia, just northeast of Vancouver, along with other lakes in the region (Shawnigan Lake & Hayward Lake), as well as establishing shots of Camden, Maine, and opening scenes set in Manhattan. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB