Aquamarine
Directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
- fantasy
- romance
- family
- comedy
The story
Two teenage girls discover that mermaids really do exist after a violent storm washes one ashore. The mermaid, a sassy creature named Aquamarine, is determined to prove to her father that real love exists, and enlists the girls' help in winning the heart of a handsome lifeguard.
What it’s like
Bright, sun-saturated Florida summer: pool-blue water, white sand, chlorine-glossy skin, and the pastel, slightly glossy digital sheen of mid-2000s studio comedy. Much of it plays out at the beach club, the pool, and a sunlit stretch of coast, with bouncy handheld energy during the girls' scrambles and softer, lingering shots when the sea itself takes over, shimmering turquoise under a clear sky. The score is upbeat pop and playful synth-pop with pop-anthem swells, and the sound of waves and seagulls is never far away. The vibe is light, sunny, and sweetly giddy, the kind of thing to put on for a lazy summer afternoon, a sleepover, or a comfort rewatch with a bowl of something sugary. Pacing is brisk and comic, with the emotional center resting on two girls' loyalty as they help an outsider chase romance. Its heart is a bond between friends and a mermaid's growing sense of what love means, with a fairy-tale crush sitting in the background. Intensity is very low: some teen peril and a storm, no gore, no real violence, and romance kept at a kiss-and-blush level. It suits families, tweens, and anyone who wants something gentle, warm, and unabashedly sweet.
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