Customer Reviews

Back to the Beach [VHS]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Can't wait for the DVD to arrive!
It's amazing how some people just can't see the humour in this totally insane parody of the early Beach movies.
However, both Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello -- and Connie Stevens for that matter -- seem to enjoy sending up their earlier screen personas, and this movie is wildly enjoyable as long as you don't expect anything more than a totally mad, insane parody of a genre.
The director of this movie is an Australian, which probably helps explain the nature of the comedy content. I'm Australian, which helps!
But ignore the 'one-star, worst film ever made' type of reviews, and give this a chance -- it is MEANT to be an over-the-top cheesy take-off, and if you enjoy absurdity, you'll love it.

For anyone who has sat through the mindless Frankie and Annette beach movies this is a real treat! In retrospect, the original movies are fun time capsules of the early sixties and this film trashes them all. Frankie and Annette are back as a married couple with children returning to their old beach for a vacation. The plot is the same lame one used in every beach movie (surfers vs. punks, jealous girlfriends, boy loses girl, boy gets girl, etc...) and there are numerous cameos throughout the film (Alan Hale, Bob Denver, the Cleavers, Peewee Herman, and many others). Connie Stevens is Great, and everyone looks like they had a blast making this film. Anyone who has any love for the old beach movies will really enjoy the self-parody of "Back to the Beach".

Annette Funicello said in an interview that she had already begun experiencing the symptoms of MS when this last Beach movie was made. She didn't have much of a career after these movies. Annette always embodied the spirit of the decent, all-American girl. The only thing you can do for Annette now is to buy all of her movies and insist that a portion of the purchase price go toward finding a cure for MS and ALS. That would be a fitting tribute.

I absolutely refused to watch this movie in the theatres, or on video. A friend asked if I had seen it and I responded 'I hated the beach movies." He responded, "so did the people who made this movie, you'll enjoy it." I watched it, I loved it, I still love it! It's sarcastic, which I believe, is why a lot of people don't "get it." Great sarcasm, great cast (who better to make fun of themselves?) and great Frankie Avalon and Dick Dale surf music. Everything that was great about the surf movies (music)and everything that was terrible, made with fun.

Gosh, I love this movie. It was my personal candidate for movie of the year when it came out in 1987. If postmodernism--nicely described by Umberto Eco as the "ironic discovery of the past" or words to that effect--can be absolute pure unadulterated pleasure, this is it. The underlying concept--that the Franklie / Annette beach had not changed an iota since they left--has to be one of the great pop movie ideas of all time. The whole film is beyond criticism--everyone is, quite simply, perfection.

For a really, shall we say, enjoyable double feature, couple this with Psycho Beach Party.

I love this movie. I wasn't even born when most of the originally beach movies were made. I found this gem when it became available for rental. I loved it. I loved the music and the feel of the movie. I laughed and laughed. Just a really feel good movie. It's not Shakespear, but I loved it.

There are quite a few people proclaiming this the worst movie ever made.
They're wrong.
This movie was so funny that I had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency intestinal repair surgery when it ended.
This movie may be the answer you seek, even if the question is about dry cleaning. See this movie.
Buy it, rent it, do something. We must save this before "they" ban it. It's an important piece of cinema, and a work of art.
Most importantly, Salvador Dali loved this movie.

I used to watch this movie on tv quite a bit, and it always cracked me up! I've never been a huge Frankie and Annette fan (they were before my time), but in this movie I really liked them as the parents! It begins when Frankie and Annette go to visit their daughter (who's boyfriend is living with her), taking along their son (who is more or less, rebelling and having an identity crisis). Songs are interspersed through the film, which are funny and entertaining; there is a cameo by Pee Wee Herman, and much more!

Pajama parties, surfing, motorcycles, beach bon-fires, etc., this film is full of moments of randomness and light-hearted fun, with couples "fighting" and making up all over the place!

For those of you worried about content: this film is somewhat family-friendly. There isn't much language in this film, the content is more some drinking in a bar/lounge, a married woman flirting, a woman flirting with a married man, a girl with a live-in boyfriend, hangovers, etc. In typical "Disney" style, they wrap up all the loose ends and end the film on a syrupy, happy note!

If you like the beach, and aren't afraid of a little singing, I'd pick this up to watch one day, if just for a temporary diversion from the same old movies that are always on...

I love this movie. I have since I was a liitle girl. I watched it at every slumber party. I love it. do you worry about tomorrow> Will it be as good as yesterday? I just look in your direction. And I'm glad for what we have today.

Don't listen to people who say it is corny. It is a great movie. I love the cast everyone is great.

THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW ONE OF THESE BEACH PARTY MOVIES WAS IN VIETNAM IN 1965. AND I MUST SAY THAT IT MADE ALL THE BAD THINGS GOING ON GO AWAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE, SO HERE ALMOST 40 YEARS LATER ITS NICE TO BE NOSTALGIC AND SEE HOW MUCH FUN US BABY BOOMERS USE TO HAVE....IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THIS MOVIE AS OF YET BUY IT CRANK UP YOUR DVD PLAYER ...MAKE SOME POPCORN AND BE PREPARED FOR SOME VERY CATCHY MUSIC AND SOME SMILES..