Teen Beach Movie, this summer’s highly anticipated DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie) hit the airwaves this past weekend, and the DVD hits store shelves July 30th. Disney Channel has been promoting Teen Beach Movie ad nauseam for months and the promotion seems to have worked because Friday night’s debut garnered 8.4 million viewers making it the most watched DCOM in 4 years with numbers even higher than the 2006 debut of High School Musical.
Teen Beach Movie follows teen surfing sweethearts Brady (Ross Lynch) and McKenzie (Mack) (Maia Mitchell) as they ride the last wave of summer. Mysteriously this wave takes them into Brady’s favorite movie, the 1962 beach party movie, “Wet Side Story” where the rival surfers and bikers are vying for control of the beach hangout. Brady and Mack must get back to present day but to do that they need to get through the movie. During their visit to 1962 they alter the romantic storyline of the movie and they have to rectify this before they can leave. Of course all of this happens while there is the requisite singing and dancing found in every classic beach party movie.
Teen Beach Movie is a cute family film that will resonate with ages 8+. The dancing and soundtrack are well done, though there is some really bad lip-synching at times. The storyline is endearing and the underlying theme of the movie-be true to yourself-is a good lesson for kids who are always trying to fit in.
I did find it a bit disturbing that the character of Tanner (Garrett Clayton) seemed to me to be a Zac Efron wanna-be while Seacat (Jordan Fisher) was a young, not-as-good-looking Corbin Bleu. There are so many different types of kids out there did we really need Disney Channel stereotypes? Just my opinion.
On Saturday, July 27th at 8pm ET/PT Disney Channel will air a Dance Along telecast of Teen Beach Movie hosted by the cast. Dance tutorials will also be available on DisneyChannel.com. Since July 19th the DVD has been available at Walmart and these come specially packaged with a collectible surfboard zipper pull-while supplies last. On July 30th the DVD will be available at retailers nationwide. The DVD also includes an exclusive new music and dance number including behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage.
Most of you have probably already seen the movie several times on your DVR but I suggest you pick up a copy of the DVD and set is aside for Christmas or a birthday. Your child will appreciate owning their own copy of this summer’s hit movie.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the DVD for the purpose of this review. All opinions are 100% mine.
Good review! My son is three so I think we will skip this. haha.
Erica
WE Three Crabs
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