CinemaCon: ‘Baywatch’ Overflows With Bikini Jokes, Raunchy Humor

Dwayne Johnson is slipping into David Hasselhoff’s swim trunks in “Baywatch,” and while he may be patrolling the beaches of Los Angeles County saving lives, he’s not taking himself too seriously.

Based on footage screened at CinemaCon on Monday, this is a “21 Jump Street” style re-interpretation of a venerable television franchise, one that’s not afraid to send up its source material. In the very red-band trailer, Johnson and co-star Zac Efron drop a lot of four-letter words, while joking about taking orders from their balls. There’s also a bit about the wedgie-inducing swimwear sported by the beautiful female lifeguards who make it safe to go in the water (though no glimpse of legendary “Baywatch” beauty Pamela Anderson).

“Why does this suit ride so far up our asses,” asks one female lifeguard. “I designed it that way,” answers another.

Efron seems to be channeling his “Neighbors” slacker character, missing morning meetings in order to pick up donuts, and getting into trouble for checking out beach beauties without any subtlety.

Saving a summer 2017 offering for the grand finale of its CinemaCon presentation Monday night, Paramount touted the TV spinoff feature, which studio vice chairman Rob Moore said has left star Johnson with “dreams of grosses even bigger than his biceps.”

The presentation from the studio featured Johnson and cast via remote video, all sporting swimsuits and attitude to match the remake of the television hit of the 1990s. The trailer, with its generous serving of tanned flesh and action-packed rescues drew a warm, if not ecstatic, reaction from the assembled film exhibitors.

Johnson promised the film – -also starring Alexandra Daddario, Priyanka Chopra and Kelly Rohrbach – would be a “global success for the movie theaters all over the world,” adding: “That is what it screams.”

What little of the plot was revealed in the trailer had Johnson and Efron riffing like cop buddies and battling with both their wits and their brawn – trading one liners, working out ferociously and keeping an eye on ubiquitous scantily-clad babes.

Johnson and crew promised they would visit CinemaCon next spring to introduce their film in person, shortly before its May 19, 2017 release. The one-time pro wrestler pledged: ““This is our beach bitch, we are coming at you.”