Back to the Beach
Cowabunga! The swinging '60s surfing vibe rides into a contemporary take on Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello's classic, carefree beach-party films. Featuring cameos from Bob Denver, Tony Dow, Pee-Wee Herman, Jerry Mathers, and a roster of familiar faces. Frankie and Annette have grown older and started families in the Midwest, then return to Los Angeles to visit their daughter, who is living with her boyfriend and attempting to keep it hidden. Tensions emerge in their marriage when Frankie encounters Connie, who has built a shrine to him in her nightclub. Their punk son has joined the local surf toughs, and the story culminates as the gang challenges the good guys to a surfing duel.
Director(s)
Lyndall Hobbs
Julie Pitkanen
Michael D. Pariser
Michael Amundson
James Lansbury
Where to watch
Amazon Video
Rent
Cast & Crew
Details
Reviews
Wuchak
**_Revisiting those zany beach party flicks from the mid-60s_** Frankie & Annette are now married and living in Ohio. Frankie’s a workaholic business owner and neglecting Annette, so they decide to fly out to SoCal to visit their daughter and old haunts on their way to Hawaii. “Back to the Beach” (1987) pays homage to those dozen AIP ‘beach party films’ that were released from 1963-1968, half of them starring Frankie Avalon and/or Annette Funicello. The movie is amusingly hammy, poking fun at those madcap 60’s flicks. Connie Stevens is on hand, looking great at 48, along with several cameos of familiar faces, like Bob Denver from Gilligan’s Island. Siskel & Ebert praised the movie on their show (the episode is available on Youtube). And, sure, it’s entertaining to a point, but I was disappointed. It’s just no where near as great as they made it out to be. Still, if you’re in the mood for an innocuous musical with a goofy beach milieu, give it a watch. The flick runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot in Malibu and Santa Cruz. GRADE: C+
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