Back to the Beach

PG

Released Aug 7, 1987

1 hr. 32 min.

Comedy

List

78%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A former beach boy (Frankie Avalon) and his wife (Annette Funicello) go to California and become part of the new beach scene.

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Kathryn L

As a kid I LOVED this film. As I got older I continued to love it. I would watch it everyday on VHS, so much so that I new every line from the film. It's fun, it's silly and it has catchy music. It's nostalgic. If you have not seen it then go for it, it's worth the watch. It has a few good cameos too.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/23

Full Review

Steve D

The actors aren't good enough to pull it off.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's back to the beach but not quite the same we remember The story is set in present day 1987 narrated by a teenage boy, Bobby discussing his parents, Frankie and Annette of how they grew up in the 1960s Those days of surfing and Mouseketeers are behind them now (funny because Annette Fucinello was actually a real-life Mouseketeer) His father formerly the Kahuna King only sells cars on tv in Ohio He's forgotten how to have fun His mother has developed some quirkyness by continuously shopping They all decide to take a break and fly to Los Angeles to see their daughter living with her boyfriend who might not be the right match Their son gets mixed up with the local tough beach gang and Frankie and Annette are challenged to a surfing competition while also going through their own insecurities and wondering how they lost their spark Can these two adults that are still decades behind keep up with modern day? It seems like they are pilgrims from an era long gone sorta along the lines of 'Brady Bunch' and 'Austin Powers' Both the actors as the parents were from the 1960s era of beach surfing pictures so they have that to their advantage The movie knows what it is and fully embraces it thanks to director Lyndall Hobbs They even get special tv guest stars throwing back to the classic days of television like Bob Denver from 'Gilligan's Isle', Paul Reubens as Pee-Wee Herman, and Don Adams from 'Get Smart' This story was meant to focus on two people and made to sort of revisit something for a brief moment, check in, give a proper goodbye, and move on Time passes but we can teach future generations a thing or two for the future days, some things live forever, the happiness doesn't have to stop just because the old days are over, who says you can never go home again? Basically this acts as a satire poking fun at the beach movie genre but it's so likable with rocking tunes and a true feel for the time period A nice time capsule for us all that's just enough silly fun combing both the 80's and the 60's in fine fashion The goofball music and the hilarious cameos make this such a lovable watch succeeding as a spoof/musical

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of movies I’ve seen as a child, haven’t seen in years but remember enjoying it. Having watching reruns of 60’s tv shows in the 80’s. All the cameos were a lot of fun. Especially when you throw in cameos of 80’s comedians as well, like Pee Wee-Herman.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's back to the beach but not quite the same we remember The story is set in present day 1987 narrated by a teenage boy, Bobby discussing his parents, Frankie and Annette of how they grew up in the 1960s Those days of surfing and Mouseketeers are behind them now (funny because Annette Fucinello was actually a real-life Mouseketeer) His father formerly the Kahuna King only sells cars on tv in Ohio He's forgotten how to have fun His mother has developed some quirkyness by continuously shopping They all decide to take a break and fly to Los Angeles to see their daughter living with her boyfriend who might not be the right match Their son gets mixed up with the local tough beach gang and Frankie and Annette are challenged to a surfing competition while also going through their own insecurities and wondering how they lost their spark Can these two adults that are still decades behind keep up with modern day? It seems like they are pilgrims from an era long gone sorta along the lines of 'Brady Bunch' and 'Austin Powers' Both the actors as the parents were from the 1960s era of beach surfing pictures so they have that to their advantage The movie knows what it is and fully embraces it thanks to director Lyndall Hobbs They even get special tv guest stars throwing back to the classic days of television like Bob Denver from 'Gilligan's Isle', Paul Reubens as Pee-Wee Herman, and Don Adams from 'Get Smart' This story was meant to focus on two people and made to sort of revisit something for a brief moment, check in, give a proper goodbye, and move on Time passes but we can teach future generations a thing or two for the future days, some things live forever, the happiness doesn't have to stop just because the old days are over, who says you can never go home again? Basically this acts as a satire poking fun at the beach movie genre but it's so likable with rocking tunes and a true feel for the time period A nice time capsule for us all that's just enough silly fun combing both the 80's and the 60's in fine fashion The goofball music and the hilarious cameos make this such a lovable watch succeeding as a spoof/musical

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I couldn't convince my husband this movie was supposed to be badly acted, but, he hasn't seen any of the original campy beach movies starring Frankie and Annette. It's a time capsule, features some great cameos (Bob Denver referencing "Gilligan's Island"!), and if you enjoy silly time capsules, you'll like this one. Annette is especially fashion forward in this, and holds a special Britney Spears-like "something isn't quite right in my eyes because 'The Mickey Mouse Club' was my childhood" appeal. She is a true study for any drag queen looking to add Jiffy-sandwich-making iconography to their repertoire.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Lyndall Hobbs

Director

Annette Funicello

Annette

Frankie Avalon

Annette's Husband

Connie Stevens

Connie

Lori Loughlin

Sandi

Tommy Hinkley

Michael

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Silly fun.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 16, 2004

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

This movie absolutely blind-sided me. I don't know what I was expecting from Back to the Beach, but it certainly wasn't the funniest, quirkiest musical comedy since Little Shop of Horrors.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an affable yet terminally erratic comedy...

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 19, 2023

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

Begrudgingly, it's hard to hate this marshmallow of a multiverse movie.

Sep 30, 2022

Full Review

Patrick McDonald

HollywoodChicago.com

Unintentionally, the film is both 1980s and 1960s nostalgia. Still as funny as I remembered, but it was a bit stiff (like Frankie's hair). But the highlight of course is Pee-Wee Herman singing SURFING BIRD, how fortuitous for time and place! New Blu-ray!

Rated: 4/5

Aug 29, 2022

Full Review

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

An odd duck of a movie with an upbeat energy about it, and an ultra-campy nostalgia-delivery device cobbled together purportedly by 17 screenwriters.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

A former beach boy (Frankie Avalon) and his wife (Annette Funicello) go to California and become part of the new beach scene.

Director: Lyndall Hobbs
Executive Producer: Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello
Screenwriter: Peter Krikes, Steve Meerson, Chris Thompson
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.2M
Sound Mix: Surround, Ultra-Stereo

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