Back to the Beach (1987) User Reviews

Back to the Beach for Frankie and Annette!

[Captain_Couth · 6/10 · 25 January 2005]

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!

fun, family flavored fare

[lilmike-1 · 7/10 · 20 February 2005]

What makes Back to The Beach so enjoyable is the great cast and cameos that pepper this film. We get a followup to those old cheesy beach movies, with a Chevy Chase Vacation kinda feel. The parents are as mixed up as the teenagers and it's of course all just silly st up for some cute musical numbers. While obviously not a classic love story like Dr. Zhivago or even Sleepless in Seattle, it's just a fun kitsch filled family musical picture. How can you resist Pee Wee Herman flying above the beach doing Surfin' Bird with Fishbone, or Dick Dale rocking with Stevie Ray Vaughan? This film is meant to be enjoyed, not analyzed.

Childhood Favorite

[stoney24 · 7/10 · 17 December 2002]

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.

Whatever happened to Frankie & Annette?

[Schlockmeister · 16 September 2000]

Frankie and Annette, together again. The movie really does contain the silliness of the original beach movies. Not laugh out loud funny but smiles, chuckles and yes, the occasional groan (the good kind...). Nevermind the story, it's' light abnd totally improbable. Again, like the originals.. Look for the jokes, the spoofing of the genre and of Frankie & Annette and the cameos. I mean look at the list...Connie Stevens (more than a cameo, she again plays the "bad girl" that tries to lure Frankie away from Annette), Stevie Ray Vaughan (In a great duet with the King Of The Surf Guitar, Dick Dale... a rare appearance on movie screens by Stevie Ray..), Pee Wee Herman (typically goofy..), Don Adams. Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, Barbara Billingsly, Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow (see a theme here?), Bob Denver and Alan Hale, Jr. Great cameos, worked in in insane ways. Hey, even the band Fishbone and Annette do a song called "Jamaican Ska". This isn't "Schindler's List" here, people, it's light, silly comedy for people in light, silly moods. Worth a try is in the mood.. particularly if you have seen some of the "Beach Blanket" movies..

C'mon it's not THAT bad

[RNMorton · 7/10 · 21 May 2000]

Frankie and Annette are married now with children, and return to the beach while going through a life crisis. For those of us who grew up as kids watching the beach blanket movies, this one is a special treat. For those who didn't see those movies I guess it isn't quite up to that. It's nice seeing all those folks back on the screen again, even if the plot is inane (hey, just like the originals!). And they even threw Lori Laughlin in for us Lori Laughlin fans.

The attempt is there...

[moonspinner55 · 2/10 · 8 April 2002]

Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello co-produced this nostalgic romp about two swingin' teen sweethearts from the '60s now married and middle-aged, coping with the passing of time (not good material for a comedy) and the problems of their own punk kids. It has guest spots and musical numbers galore but, unlike the themes in "Grease", for instance, this doesn't have the impact or widespread appeal to be wildly successful; it just doesn't work. The film has a very weak script, which certainly was no help to the director, and the scenes don't build any momentum. Even the nostalgia-factor in seeing Avalon and Funicello together again is low (where's the chemistry? All they do here is bicker). A lot of people put their time and talent into this picture, but it doesn't soar, doesn't spark fond memories. It's a wash-out. *1/2 from ****

A Hilarious Spoof of the Early 60's Beach Movies

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 1 September 2017]

Although "the Big Kahuna" (Frankie Avalon) and "Annette" (Annette Funicello) were the king and queen of the California beach scene twenty years earlier, the two of them now live ordinary lives in Ohio with their rebellious adolescent son named "Bobby" (Demien Slade) giving them more drama than the two can handle. So in great need of a vacation they book a flight to Hawaii with a brief scheduled layover in California in order to visit their daughter "Sandi" (Lori Laughlin). What they don't know is that Sandi isn't quite as innocent as they believe and has been living in an apartment on the beach with a surfer named "Michael" (Tommy Hinkley). Needless to say, Sandi is terrified to learn of their unexpected visit and upon their arrival she proceeds to throw all of Michael's clothes out the nearest window--with him jumping out that same window only minutes later. If that isn't bad enough, not long afterward the Big Kahuna and Annette have a fight which results in their splitting up and going their separate ways. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that I found this film to be a hilarious spoof of the old beach movies produced in the early 60's. I especially liked the performances of John Calvin (as "Troy") and the aforementioned Demien Slade. Likewise, having an actress as beautiful as Lori Laughlin certainly didn't hurt either. In any case, although this movie is far from perfect and probably won't appeal to all viewers, I enjoyed it and have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Changed my mind on this one

[irishm · 3/10 · 4 January 2016]

And not in the most flattering direction. I remember liking this when it first came out... I'm old enough to be able to identify exactly what they were parodying, I enjoyed the cameos by such 1960's luminaries as Don Adams and Alan Hale Jr., and I liked the music of the period, so it followed that I would enjoy the movie.

However, it doesn't hold up well. It's deliberately corny, which was acceptable at the time but now comes off as tedious and dull. It feels over-long, although I don't think the run time is excessive (it just feels that way). Many of the songs seem forced, crammed in instead of being part of the natural flow, and the songs aren't that catchy (except for the stand-up-and-dance "California Sun").

Fans of the era or the performers might enjoy it, at least once, but I don't think I'll come back to it again.

Frankie and Annette get back to their home turf

[cb795 · 8/10 · 3 July 2004]

For those of us who grew up on Beach Party movies, this is a fun revisiting of the genre. Done as a combination homage/spoof to these early/mid 60's drive-in specials, the movie reunites some of the principle players and revisits the myth of California as Shangri-La.

Annette, Frankie, Connie and dozens of guests in cameo roles gently rib the genre and themselves. As usual, Annette and Frankie have some difference of opinions and go off in different directions--even though they have been married for 20 years. Their plots to make each other jealous and the ultimate reconciliation are no surprise, but still make for a pleasant 90 minutes.

Annette and Connie are as lovely as ever. The villains are redeemed in the end and, of course, the "Big Kahuna" overcomes his anxiety and wins the surfing competition(even though he has not been on a board in over 20 years)..

beach movies

[dthorsen1146 · 6/10 · 24 February 2006]

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"

Masked Criticisms

[biteyislewis · 4/10 · 29 August 2014]

Back to the Beach (1987) Masked Criticisms Review

Hunter

So the premise is simple, we watch a film at random, sometimes it's good… mostly it's not, this is Masked Criticisms.

Eisenstein

I think from the title alone one can tell which of the two basic categories this film belongs to. Hunter If you mean it was poop, then yeah it was poop.

Eisenstein

Now let's not be too hasty. Back to the Beach is a comedy film from the 1980's that spoofs surfer pictures from the 60's. It follows two old film stars that return to the seaside to relive their glory days and embarrass their hip kids. This film is part of a series, but honestly I had no idea until just now when I looked it up on IMDb.

Hunter

You wouldn't need to see the others to understand what the hell was going on. It was so random and unpredictable and yet cliché at the same time. I guessed the ending ten minutes into the film, however I would never have imagined Pee Wee Herman to come out of nowhere to sing surfing bird then literally fly away, but that mind fart certainly happened.

Eisenstein

This whole film had a lot of set ups for cameos but I guess we're too young to recognize any of them. Except, that is, for OJ Simpson. Not the film makers fault, I mean they couldn't have guessed he'd kill his wife, but it did really date this film. Along with a whole pile of other 80's clichés; skateboards, waist high thongs, surfing, bad hairstyles…

Hunter

…cocaine…

Eisenstein

There was no drugs in this film.

Hunter

I meant the director.

Eisenstein

That would explain the lack of choreography.

Hunter

Oh yeah, I kind of forgot it was a musical, I suppose that's a good thing though, I can't stand musicals.

Eisenstein

You liked Frozen…

Hunter

Another thing I have to give this film credit for is that everyone in it is fit, not the main family, granted, but everyone else is attractive, sadly no chubby chicks though.

Eisenstein

My main problem with the characters is that they were all wannabes. The punks who were supposed to be intimidating looked like pantomime Sex Pistols.

Hunter

… and since it's on a beach the girls are in thongs. I'm not usually a fan of those really long 80's thongs but some of those chicks, man.

Eisenstein

Yes well, anyways, what it all comes down to is an out dated film laughing at even more out dated films, unfortunately it really doesn't hold up as I can't tell what's an 80's cliché is and what's a 60's farce.

Hunter

I was thinking of giving this film a 6 out of 10 just for the babes alone, but Eisenstein here says I have to rate the entire movie as a whole so I'm gonna have to say 3 out of 10. It's not so much a beach party, more of a tsunami of poop.

Eisenstein

What a poetic analogy to end on. 4 out of 10.

tremendous watchability

[ljarsonbeck-1 · 8/10 · 8 November 2004]

If you've been to film school or honestly believe black and white film noir somehow has the edge on all other genres then cease reading and go back to your bongo, beret and pretentious clover cigarettes because you will never understand how much fun this film is. Take the icon duo of Frankie and Annette put them in a parody of their own genre add a half dozen cameos from some of the most memorable characters 60's T.V. had to offer add some great casting especially the role of Bobby (Demian Slade) and you have Back to the Beach.

Frankie is an over worked car dealer Annette is an overly optimistic housewife- they opt to take a trip to Hawaii stopping along the way in L.A. to visit their eldest daughter who happens to live on the very beach they once romped as teens. Did I mention their son Bobby (an ashamed to be Frankie and Annettes son donning punk garb and attitude) tags along creating the punchiest of the punchlines and the films narration. There on the beach Frankie finds his daughter dating a surfer and an old flame "losing" Annette in the process while ticking off the local "beach roughians". The plot is great as a parody with the perfect couple playing the leads while the story plays out in old beach film fashion.

It's risqué enough to keep your eyes open but innocent enough in dialogue to show a six year old. Sure the acting is over the top but didn't I mention this was a parody of the "beach films". Add to this a great musical score including Dick Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughn and you have not so much a great film as a very watchable/researchable one.

Is it as good as say Requiem For a Dream no of course not but let me ask: how often can you really watch a man lose his arm while his girl friend reverts to public sodomy for drug money...Go for the FUN!! Go watch Back To The Beach, you won't be disappointed!!!!!

Redeeming qualities CAN be found...!

[larry.launders · 6/10 · 3 June 2002]

As you might imagine this is not going to make anybodys top lists for any kind of movie. Nowhere near good enough to make any, nowhere near bad enough to deserve it.

However, I did find myself far more entertained with it than I expected. There are laughs to be had now and again and at least it doesn't take itself too seriously.

But beyond all of that, for us music fans (particularly guitarists) is the pairing of Dickie Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughan playing "Pipeline" together at the local hangout. Redemption!

why do you goddamn people do this to me?

[jessegehrig · 2/10 · 25 July 2013]

Frankie and Annette were hanging on the sand when Frankie got a letter from his uncle Sam, it said get Moondog and all your clan your all invited to a beach party Viet Nam, cooking hot dogs with napalm beach party Viet Nam. Holy lord what turds. Sometimes there are movies that require booze or drugs to watch it cause the movie so does suck, the amount of drugs or booze you got to use to successfully watch Back to the Beach is dangerous. Dangerous! Oh man, does this movie not work properly, it's broken in so many ways and broken so fundamentally, there is no fixing it other than using fire- fire to burn it all away. Good ole cleansing bright fire. What do you people want from movies? I mean why do you give people your money? It only validates the very worst behavior.

One of the best American comedies of the last 30 years!

[CHARLIE-89 · 12 May 1999]

BACK TO THE BEACH is undoubtedly one of the best, funniest American Comedies of the last thirty years! It is a great movie - with a great cast, great settings, and great music! Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello are back. They're visiting their daughter in L.A. While there, there are all sorts of hilarious situations, jokes, and even cameos (Don Adams, Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr.)Fun from first reel to last. A real treasure.

Great only if you have seen the old beach movies

[sifujon · 7/10 · 1 September 2003]

I just watched this movie again, and it is a hilarious satire if you watched the beach movies in the 60s. My wife didn't, and just doesn't appreciate it. Anette and Frankie are terrific parodies of themselves. Sadly, if you watch closely you can see how unsteady she is in several scenes. I don't think Pee Wee adds anything to the movie; his cover of Surfin Bird is awful. OTOH, the Jamaica Ska scene with Fishbone and Anette and the Warm California Sun with Frankie, Connie Stevens and Dickie Dale are terrific. Good movie for a rainy Labor Day Monday.

Could it be any worse?

[culwin · 4/10 · 21 April 2000]

The only thing in this movie that is the least bit entertaining is the kid (Demian Slade) who keeps telling his parents how dumb they are. And he is completely right! This movie is painfully boring. The "humor", if you would call it that, is stupid even for a cheesy 80's movie. Unless you are a diehard fan of Frankie & Annette, avoid!

Not bad if you don't take it seriously

[gregsrants · 6/10 · 4 June 2004]

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

Get the Soundtrack Skip the Film

[reymunpadilla · 5/10 · 4 January 2024]

The original beach films were pretty terrible, and the main reasons people watched them was to see some skin and hear the music.

Far from being "wholesome" or family films, they were an excuse to stare at sexy people in as skimpy swimsuits as were allowed at the time. There were plenty of jokes about sex, but no sex.

The music was great EXCEPT for Frankie and Annette. Neither could sing, and both got famous on their looks. But the films included many legends: The Animals, Beach Boys, Dave Clark Five, Dick Dale, The Kingsmen, Little Richard, Righteous Brothers, Nancy Sinatra, Supremes, Mary Wells, even Stevie Wonder at age 12.

This film does have equally great music. Dick Dale came back. Stevie Ray Vaughn and Fishbone showed up early in their careers.

But this film is focused on the middle aged Frankie and Annette. The skin is lacking, and so are the sex jokes. Instead you have the corny godawful unfunny plots from the films.

They didn't have cable, streaming, DVDs, or the net back in the 60s. So people were willing to put up with a lot for three great songs and the sight of girls in bikinis. You don't need to today, thankfully. If you do watch, fast forward to the songs and you'll thank me.

"Say, do you want to hear about an accident I once had?"

[missyp · 10/10 · 18 May 2001]

This is a great piece of retro kitsch. Frankie and Annette spoof themselves and their squeaky clean image from the 60s. Loads of inside jokes for those who love the old beach movies. Appearances by Dick Dale, Connie Stevens, OJ Simpson, and Pee Wee Herman are all top notch.

This was the first PG movie I ever saw. I loved it and watched it over and over. Re-watching it for the first time in a decade revealed so many jokes I didn't get as a child. It's great, great, great!!

Funny rehash of the old beach party movies

[preppy-3 · 7/10 · 9 November 2007]

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.

Revisiting those zany beach party flicks from the mid-60s

[Wuchakk · 5/10 · 21 August 2023]

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+

Great Movie, with Great Characters, and wonderful light touch

[wmadavis · 9/10 · 10 August 2000]

Of course this movie won't mean much to you if you don't know who Frankie and Annette and Connie Stevens are, but that makes you ignorant, that doesn't make the movie bad. I can't believe the negative comments I've been reading. This is a wonderful movie parody of the old themes of the beach movies. It has a great cast with many funny lines and a wonderful light touch that doesn't take itself too seriously and throws in bizarre touches like Pee Wee Herman appearing out of nowhere to sing "Surfin' Bird." It was quite a feat for them to make funny characters out of Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello as a middle-aged couple; they weren't exactly known for their great acting or comedy talent. Their son in the movie was one of the most enjoyable movie characters of the 1980's. Every scene in the movie brings a smile. Great Stuff.

Oh man

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 26 September 2020]

Meta didn't seem to be a thing when Back to the Beach came out. And while on the surface this seems to be a simple parody of beach party movies - it even uses the same character names from many of them - it has a heart of weirdness that makes it rise above what it could be, like the very best beach movies always do.

Director Lyndall Hobbs should have done more than this one film - she also worked in television - because I had such a blast watching this.

Frankie and Annette live far from the beach in Ohio, far from when he was the Big Kahuna and their love burned hot. Now he struggles to sell cars and she deals with her pain by charging shopping sprees and their son Bobby is in open rebellion.

On the way to a vacation in Hawaii, they stop to visit their daughter Sandi (Lori Laughlin, always ready to be the love interest in quasi-sport films like this and Rad) who is in love with a surfer. Hijinks, as I always say, ensue, leading to one last big beach movie.

Somehow, this is a movie that can have O.J. Simpson and Stevie Ray Vaughn in it, most of the Cleaver family from Leave It to Beaver along with Fishbone (who were in seemingly every late 80's movie that needed a band that the Chili Peppers turned down*). I mean, Fishbone sings with Annette!

Plus, you get appearances from Don Adams, Dick Dale, Connie Stevens, Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Edd Byrnes and Pee-Wee Herman, who sings "Surfin' Bird."

Sadly, this would be Annette's last film, as she was diagnosed with MS while making the movie. She asked that no one be told and completed her work.

*Fishbone is in Tapeheads, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, The Mask and The Tripper, while the Red Hot Chili Peppers were in Tough Guys, but man, it seemed like they were everywhere in 1986.

Painful; a complete disaster.

[WitnessToIt · 1/10 · 6 August 2023]

I hadn't seen this since it came out and now I see why I hadn't bothered. This movie should not be mentioned in the same paragraph as the '60s beach movies unless to say it can't compare to them, and is only a parody of them.

The thing is, that could have been okay. I knew it was a parody going into it; I just didn't remember how HORRIBLE the "humor" in this was...

You've got Frankie as a car salesman (who wears his dress pants on the beach, by the way) and Annette as his wife (here called Annette, not Dee Dee), and the kid who wanted 2 dollars from John Cusack in Better Off Dead as their "punk-ish" son.

Everything is written so ridiculously exaggerated, it's all done in a really BAD way. The costumes are an utter joke - the gang that Bobby, the son, joins with, are some horrendous 1980s Hollywood idea of what punk is supposed to be; the surfers are so stupid in this that besides making "Bonehead" from the originals seem smarter, it at LEAST makes him not seem obnoxious, not cringe-inducing; THAT'S the term! That's the term for this whole stupid, stinking movie. It's downright painful. I actually was in some tears when there was a ska number by the band Fishbone, it was so bad. And then I can't (for the moment) forget about this one character in it, Troy, who is so horrendous, his jokes terrible, his smugness overdone....oh I can't go on, I don't want to think about this movie anymore.

I'll just say Pee-Wee Herman may be the highlight of this, with a bad version of Surfin' Bird (it ain't The Trashmen, that's for sure), and of complete with horrible 1980s electronic drums. In fact, all the music in this is ruined by the godawful '80s sounds of those drums and of course synthesizers.

ALL the jokes fall FLAT. None of the guest stars on this can rescue this steaming pile masquerading as entertainment - this includes Bob Denver, Jerry Mathers, Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley, Alan Hale Jr., the list goes on; you can spot - well I did - Rodney Bigenheimer in this disaster, this mess.

Not even Dick Dale or Stevie Ray Vaughan can (God, I hate the costumes of the backing singers, thinking of that now - all the musicians, this horrendous, exaggerated '80s semi-new wave type of look - about as real as if everybody dressed like they were auditioning to play with Grace Jones or something.....

Oh and Lori Laughlin, their daughter in this (Frankie and Annette's), was in the show Full House - one of the most vile, nauseating "sitcoms" ever in the history of television.

There are simply too many things wrong with this movie; there is absolutely no redeeming value in this. Sorry, Pee-Wee.

Flush this movie down the toilet. All prints of this should have been destroyed long ago.