Wow! Such a good movie.

A Major Disappointment

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The preeminence of a formerly strictly Black type of Music had been with us for well over a decade when the "New" Song & Dance form, now known as "Rock 'n' Roll" was forever fused with the Movies.The Southern California Surfing Scene, the New Mores of permitting the Exhibition and viewing of highly Semi-Nude Human form on the screen and the Economic$ and Realitie$ that possibly for the first time in our history, the Adolescent or "Teen Ager" was beginning to show that it was to show that it was His/Her expendable Ca$h Dollar$ that were a, if not THE, number factor in the Movie Business.The resulting type of Film Genre, the Teen-Age Beach Movie. In the brief period of 3-5 years we were treated to such spectacles as BEACH PARTY, HOW TO STUFF A WILD BIKINI, BEACH BLANKET BINGO, MUSCLE BEACH PARTY; 'B' Films all and all from the gang over at American-International Pictures.* All designed to be shown at that now nearly extinct institution known as The Drive-In Movie Theatre.**IT was a case of Formula Film to the Nth Degree. All that was needed was some Guitar-laden Rock 'n' Roll Music from some semi famous group, such as Lovin' Spoonful, the Buckinghams or the Mainliners. Add a Male and Female lead (how 'bout Annette Funicello & Frankie Avalon?)and a large group of (Woo,woo,woo,woo!) "Stuffed Bikinis" and a corresponding number of Athletic Male Swimmers and Surfers. Next we need some Comic Relief in the form of guys like Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett and "the Great Stone Face" (Himself), Silent Film Comedian, Buster Keaton; they all did Beach Films in that role. The last ingredient would be a Comic Villain and his cohorts. Harvey Lembeck filled that bill very well.The Producers of BACK TO THE BEACH wisely added to the retro-effect and enjoyment of the movie by having stocked the movie with plenty of Denizens of the '60's Scene. Edd Byrnnes ('Kookie' from 77 SUNSET STRIP), Connie Stevens, Alan Hale, Jr. & Bob Denver (Gilligan & Skipper), Tony Dowe (Wally), Jerry Mathers (the Beaver), Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver), Don Adams (Maxwell Smart, Tennessee Tuxedo's voice)all make some pretty decent sized cameos. Added to the mix we have top Recording Guitarists Dick Dale and Rodney Bingeheimer; providing just for proper Musical Interest, Nostalgia and Authenticity.AS for a Contemporary component, they added a virtually pointless appearance by the then red-hot and very popular Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman) to sing the old Rock 'n' Roll Classic, "The Bird"; and a now ironic spoof of the old Hertz Car Rental Commercials with old O.J. Simpson (himself); accurately lampooning his long running "getting through the Airport" commercials! THE Movie had been sort of prematurely panned and dismissed obviously by a large number of (Everybody, Hurry and Genuflect) Critics who had never even screened it. This hurt it bat the Box Office and by the time that word had gotten out about its true merits, it was headed for Videoland.BACK TO THE BEACH is a truly amusing production and is worthy to be classified with the Modern Comedy work of Messers Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and the Team of Zucker,Abrahams & Zucker.WE now would be all ready to roll the film. And they were highly successful during that brief period. Hence, this Parody-Send Up-Tribute to the whole bunch of films.BACK TO THE BEACH (Paramount, 1987) provides us with a gentle and truly funny film that answers a lot of the heretofore unanswered questions, like: What happens to old Surfers? Is the Beach still open? Did those two Love Birds ever marry? What about the Next Generation? Is 'Kookie' still parkin' them cars? So just remember how they started filming their Beach Scenes with: "Lights, Camera, and EVERYBODY TWIST!"NOTE * American-International or A.I.P. for short; now how could we forget them? They were probably responsible for more Pictures that we DIDN'T WATCH at the Drive-Ins than the other Companies Films we DID SEE!NOTE: ** There was even an "A" Film Beach Movie with DON'T MAKE WAVES (Filmways/MGM, 1967). It was a Top shelf Production with a first rate cast including: Tony Curtis, Claudia Cardinalle, Robert Webber, Sharon Tate, Dave draper, Chet Yorton, Reg Lewis, China Lee, Mort Sahl, Dub Taylor, Joanna Barnes, Jim Backus & Henny Backus (Mr. & Mrs. Jim Backus-uncredited.)

In the early to mid 60's Annette and Frankie were in what I used to think as dumb beach movies. But as I've gotten older their really quite funny and entertaining. The music was good and boy Annette and Frankie could sure sing. Their really wasn't much of a plot to these movies just hanging out at the beach with the girls in bikinis of course Annette was in her one piece, and the guys and their surfboards. Back to the Beach follows this rule and even carries on the music side of it too. I personally fell head over heels (again) for the 45 year old Annette when I saw her in this. I was very upset when I found out she had her first public symptoms of MS during filming of this movie. But this is a good last tribute to the queen of the 60's beach movies. It's not the best movie it's silly it does have a plot though, and it is watchable but I still give it only a six because the kid that plays Annette and Frankie's son in this movie is so annoying that I wanted to strangle him. Lori Loughlin(of full house fame) is cast as their daughter and she does a fine job but it still doesn't overshadow the annoying son. Pee Wee Herman a.k.a. Paul Reubens makes a brief appearance in this as a singer singing us "The Bird"

As A child I remember watching this film countlessly. I wasn't old enough to remember the beach movies, although throughout the years I came to know and love them. This movie follows Frankie and Annette after they've gotten married and have a couple of kids. I love how it's a movie about how just cause you get older it doesn't mean you have to give up the things that you use to love. This film, much like the original beach movie, is extremely camp. However, it's so funny, if taken with a grain of salt. And Don Adams as the boat master still cracks me up. It's a wonderful family film.

Just plain entertaining, if you don't like this film you don't how to have fun. With cameos from O.J. Simpson and Gilligans Island cast members, and even the voice of inspector gadget, this film is chock full of fun songs, an interesting (if cheesy plot) and of course, lots of surfing.