Teen Beach Movie
2013 · Directed by Jeffrey Hornaday
Original language: English
- family
- music
- tv movie
- comedy
- fantasy
The story
Life's a beach for surfers Brady and McKenzie – until a rogue wave magically transports them inside the classic '60s beach party flick, "Wet Side Story," where a full-blown rivalry between bikers and surfers threatens to erupt. There, amidst a sea of surfing, singing and dancing, Brady and Mack accidentally change the storyline, and the film’s dreamy hero and heroine fall for them instead of for each other!
What it’s like
Bright, saturated Southern California summer: sun-bleached sand, turquoise water, and cheerful pastel-candy costumes that shift into the flat, overlit Technicolor of a 1960s beach party picture once the story folds into its inner film. Camera work is bouncy and open, with wide establishing shots of the coast, sunny group dance numbers filmed head-on, and quick cuts between the real world and the vintage movie-within-a-movie. Music carries most of the momentum: brisk pop and rock-tinged songs, glossy harmonies, and choreography that is playful rather than polished. The mood is sunny, light, and breezy, with a gentle storm-and-surf adventure undercurrent and an easy goofy humour. Its emotional register is warm and sweet, following two teenagers who learn to adjust their expectations and loyalties. Intensity is very low: a little slapstick peril and some mild rivalry between bikers and surfers, but no violence, no gore, and no sexual content beyond light teen romance. Good for family viewing, a lazy summer afternoon, or anyone wanting feel-good musical escapism with a lot of color and energy.
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