When I think of Shannon Tweed movies, I (like all other red-blooded American males) think of late nite Skinemax flicks, with plenty of Tweed topless. Well, let me tell you off the bat that there is no sign of Tweed's treats unclothed in this movie.  Having said that, this movie still leaves a bad taste in your mouth (no pun intended).  The piranha women inhabit the uncharted (?) avocado jungle of southern California.  They are a matriarchal society who cook & eat their men after copulation.  Whatever happened to the post-coital cigarette?  Anyway, the government is upset, and want their avocados without trouble (or are they just afraid of strong women with guacamole dip?).  So what do they do?  Threaten a women studies professor (Tweed) to infiltrate the jungle and bring the piranha women to civilization.  And then what does she do?  She brings her pink-wearing empty-headed student and hires an old flame (Bill Maher) to be their guide. Maher proves his is one bad actor with his portrayal of this Indiana Jones -Inspector Clouseau hybrid.

The group penetrate the "jungle" of southern California, and encounter a leopard (who must have escaped from the zoo), some catfish, and a hippo that conveniently stays off-screen (What? Was Rosie O'Donnell busy?).  Our heroes (and I use that term loosely) then come upon the tribe of Donnahews, men who knit & cook & make each other hot chocolate.  Not to worry, after a beer-induced speech by Maher, the primitive wimps are now ready for a gang bang!  Onward to the piranha women - where we find the once world famous feminist (author of "Smart Women, Stupid Insensitive Men") leading the tribe.  This leader (played by a clothed Adrienne Barbeau) was also sent into the jungle by the government in an attempt to bring the piranha women away from the avocados.  So is the government playing the both of them? (or is Barbeau playing Tweed?).

As exciting as this sounds, it's not suspenseful in the least.  It is a comedy after all, and a bad one at that.  If they focused more on the comedy and less on the battle of the sexes motif, it could have been better.  Who am I kidding - if the piranha women were naked (except for one short gratuitous scene in the beginning), then this movie could have been better. But it is worth a few laughs to see Bill Maher make an ass out of himself (he doesn't have to work too hard).  Be sure to drink heavily before viewing!
 

Tagline  "These women are serious about their taste in men!"
 

Quality: 3.5  Visuals: 3.5  Intensity: 2.0  Laughability: 4.0  T&A: 2.5 
OVERALL RATING: 3.1