Instant Favorite.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

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 this movie Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon played the characters they played in all those beach party movies. They married, moved to Ohio, have a daughter named Sandy (Lori Loughlin) in Califonia and a rebellious son Bobby (Damian Slade). They also act like the 1960s never ended. They go to California to visit Sandy and find things have changed at the beach. Well...not really. The kids at the beach STILL act like a bunch of idiots (just with better bodies this time), sex and drugs are NEVER brought up, nobody would dare swear and (sigh) there's a rival beach gang (all dressed in black) whose overacting would make Jim Carrey blush!This starts off great with son Bobby always insulting his father and seeing how everybody reacts to Funicello and Avalon's naivety and sweetness. Also the cameos by Bob Denver, Connie Stevens, Don Adams etc etc are fun and Annette sings a really fun song ("Jamaica Ska"). But the jokes quickly get repetitious and the movie completely goes flying out the window when Pee Wee Herman (!!!) shows up to sing "The Bird". Bizarre doesn't begin to cover it. Still it does have a lot of truly funny gags, is VERY colorful and the cast gives it their all. Just ALL the kids on the beach acting like a bunch of morons got on my nerves (I was never a big fan of the original "Beach Party" movies anyways). There are a few funny jabs at Funicello and her peanut butter commercials. I recommend it, but only if you've seen the beach party movies. Otherwise you'll be lost. I give it a 7.

Back to the Beach (1987) was an interesting movie that was produced during the 80's. The Big Kahuna (Frankie Avalon) is a family man now who's wife (Annette) is a preppy housewife who has a kitchen cabinet full of Skippy's peanut butter (creamy) with a 50's housewife aura. She's always smiling and just so happy. The kids are at the rebellious age and are weirded out by their strange behavior. That's until the family heads back to the beach and the kids discover their parents lively background!You can't go wrong with this movie if you're a big fan of the 60's films that starred Annette and Frankie. A true nostalgia flick filled with several older stars (The Skipper and Gilligan) and new ones (i.e. Pee-Wee Herman). What keeps this from being a real keeper is the way the film ends, but if you're a fan of the stars it wont matter. A nice reunion picture.Recommended for Beach Blanket Bingo fans. Others yield caution before viewing!

I have a friend (to keep his name confidential, let's just call him Nor) who swears up and down on the merits of 1987's beach blanket bimbo film Back to the Beach staring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. In a recent communication, Nor commented on how this film always made him `feel good', and how many films can `honestly make that claim?'Now, when Back to the Beach first came to our local theatre some 17 years ago, I remember accompanying my little sister to the mall venue and having a fluff of a good time. I couldn't recall for you any of the characters or storyline if confronted on the street today, but as I roll my eyes upwards to try and recall this sand castle of a movie, I am not left with any resounding bad notions.Well, flip forward to 2004 and Paramount Studio's is finally releasing Back to the Beach on DVD to what I can only expect was little pressure (sorry, Nor). I doubt there was a lengthy petition nor do I expect that there was a rampage outside the Studio gates looking to free this film from its dust ridden resting place. However, now that its back, what better way to start off the summer than putting this small gem into the DVD player and being reminded of a simpler, more innocent time. Playing on Saturday afternoon television every so often, you may not require a detailed review of the films storyline, but here goes…Frankie and Annette have grown from their beach personas and are now living in Ohio. They return to L.A. to visit their daughter who to their surprise, is living with her boyfriend. To further add stress and tension, Frankie bumps into Connie (an old friend) who still has the hots for him and soon Frankie and Annette's marriage is on the rocks. All comes to a head when a group of thugs teams up with Frankie and Annette's rebellious son and challenge the father (known only to us in the film as the Big Kahuna), to a surfing contest. Back to the Beach's script could probably been written on a post-it note, but that doesn't mean we are not going to have some fun along the way. Interweaved through all the 80's fashion crazes are old television stars and even a 60's type musical number on the beach that if you don't watch out, will have you tapping your feet to the Jamaica SKA. Blink and you might miss Bob Denver and the late Alan Hale (Gilligan and the Skipper for you younger folk), Pee Wee Herman, Don Adams (Get Smart), Barbara Billingsly, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers (Leave it to Beaver). Even Stevie Ray Vaughn and O.J. Simpson can be seen if you don't take washroom breaks. Now, I will be the first to admit that throwing a bunch of stars into a movie doesn't necessarily make for a good time, but the fact that none of these accredited actors take themselves seriously, means that the audience too can sit back and enjoy the performance. When Bob Denver continues to play up his Gilligan character he made famous, it takes us back even further to childhood memories of sitting in front of the 13 inch black and white television rooting for the castaways to eventually find their way off the island.Back to the Beach is not for all tastes and that was evident even back in '87 when the movie only grossed $13 million (granted, it was released on the same date as Dirty Dancing so it sort of slipped into the background). The humor is definitely roll-your-eyeish and the corny surfing scene in the climax kind of left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Most younger viewers won't get the inside jokes either like when Annette goes to the cupboard and pulls out a jar of SKIPPY peanut butter (she was their commercial spokesperson back in the early 80's) and that might take away from some of the films appeal.However, for a fun time in the vein of Saturday Night Live where each scene sets itself up as a skit – some work, some don't – it's not a bad way to say ‘hello' to the summer. Or should I say `aloha'? www.gregsrants.com