If you like the idea of a shirtless Zac Efron, the Rock and boobs — yes boobs — all coming together to bring you a raunched-up version of a ‘90s TV staple, you needn’t look further thanBaywatch.

The Seth Gordon-directed version of the David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson show that featured jiggly babes and brawny dudes running in slo-mo on the beach is getting an R-rated makeover, with below-the-belt laughs and over-the-top action.

“I think universally everyone knows Baywatch in some way or another,” Efron, 29, tells the Sun down the line from Miami ahead of the film’s opening this Thursday. “I had never really seen the show, but I have images of that program instilled in me from my childhood. That American dream of Pamela Anderson running in slow motion and David Hasselhoff making the epic save. It was this other world and it was so glamorous and cool.

“But we turn it on its head a little bit by making it a bit more action packed and fun for today’s audience.”

Hasselhoff played Mitch Buchannon for 11 seasons on TV. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson reincarnates the character on the big screen.

Baywatch the movie features Efron as Buchannon’s cocky new recruit Matt Brody, Alexandra Daddario as Summer Quinn, Kelly Rohrbach as C.J. Parker, Ilfenesh Hadera as Stephanie Holden and Priyanka Chopra as the villainous Victoria Leeds.

But instead of running around and looking pretty, this time the lifeguards tackle a major crime ring on the beach.

“Hearing that pitch from the Rock himself was really, really exciting,” Efron says.

“I had worked with Dwayne before on San Andreas, and he really makes me feel confident when I work on a film with him,” Daddario, 31, adds. “He makes me feel like we’re going to make the greatest film possible.”

Fresh from a day by the water, Efron and Daddario rang up to make their Baywatch date-night pitch, tell us why they’ll vote for President Rock and reveal their idea for a sequel.

What interested the two of you about doing a movie version of Baywatch?

Efron: First off, Dwayne, the Rock, just lit up when he was talking about this. I think that it was really smart of (the producers and filmmakers) to go to a guy like the Rock, and put a spin on it that pokes a little fun, but holds true to all the great things the original did.

Daddario:Baywatch is something that I knew could be completely hysterical. I was reading the script and I knew within the first 15 or 20 pages that it was going to be funny. There’s a scene when Ronnie gets his d— stuck in a chair – it’s absurd and ridiculous, it’s exactly what the movie needed to be. I thought it was hysterical and I wanted to be part of something that made people laugh. That’s what we all need right now.

Efron: That’s what’s bringing me to movie theatres more than ever. I see a lot of movies, but I’m excited about movies where friends are making each other better. Like Guardians of the Galaxy – they’re the misfits that come together and become heroes. This had the potential for that dynamic and I think we found it. I’m super pumped on it. It’s going to be great.

Why is Baywatch the perfect date-night movie?

Daddario:Because you get to laugh. If you’re going to go on a romantic date I think it’s an opportunity to go out and have fun. And it’s romantic in a weird way.

Efron: This is the perfect date movie. It’s disarming. It’s hilarious, it’s got action for the guys, there’s some romance, there’s boobs. It sounds better when you say boobs.

Daddario: The boobs will bring people to the theatre – my boobs. And there’s abs.

Is there any CGI on anyone’s abs?

Efron: Not that I know of. I would have to ask the director.

Daddario:There could be. They do stuff to us that we don’t even know about. But I will tell you that I have seen Zac’s abs in person and I have touched them and there is no CGI done to them. But we worked hard on our diets. I had to cut out ice cream, which is very hard for me. We really worked out and we were all incredibly dedicated to getting into shape because part of the joke about Baywatch is how supernaturally good looking these people are.

Efron: Part of the fantasy of Baywatch was always that these people look like gods. We wanted to pay homage to that, but then break it down and make fun of it as much as possible. Superficiality is not what makes a person great or admirable. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. I think the movie shows that in a great way.

Zac, there’s a scene where you have to walk in heels. How hard was that?

Efron: I don’t know how girls do it. I give them so much respect and I’m humbled. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do Tootsie, I don’t know how (Dustin Hoffman) did it.

There’s been some chatter about the Rock running for president. Would he get your vote?

Daddario: He has my vote because he is very genuine and he’s very supportive. He really cares about people. He’s really honest and he really wants to do the best for people. When we’re on set, he wants the best for the crew and the filmmaking team. Also, I think he knows how to surround himself with good people.

Efron: Absolutely, I’d vote for him. He’s so genuine. I trust him. He’s a man of his word. He’s straightforward and he’s cool. You can’t help but root for him. Nine out of 10 times he’s usually right about what he’s talking about. He’s a fascinating guy and he’s continuing to grow. He’s had an interesting life and even though he’s got a lot of knowledge, he’s still searching. He’s the model of what I want to be in the future. I always want to be chasing something; chasing waves and dreams and movies for the rest of my life. He never gives up.

You battle drug dealers in this one. Have you thought about who the Baywatch team might go up against in Baywatch 2?

Efron: There’s so many directions.

Daddario:There’s something hidden in the bay. We don’t know what it is. At first we think it’s ghosts, but then we realize it’s an alien.

Efron: Or a monster that’s taken human form and Baywatch are the only team that can stop it.

Daddario:Or shark aliens. And we take it really, really seriously and no one believes us. And they’re Russian alien sharks.

Efron:That works.

Baywatch opens Thursday, May 25.

Twitter: @markhdaniell

MDaniell@postmedia.com