eli (03/27/83)
Two new "spring" releases... I keep getting the titles mixed up, so go by the rating to pair the review to the film: ---------- Spring Break (> R <) Take me back to 1963! Twenty years of moral loosening has all but destroyed the FrankieandAnnette Beach Party genre. Basically this film shows a few thousand kids on spring break in Ft. Lauderdale, drinking, driving, and, well you know... As one film critic here in Seattle said, "... a film that shows how far Spandex will stretch." Also how many bikini clad women can be fit into a single 35-mm frame. A few boring subplots (although I think the word 'subplots' has too many letters to be applied to the simplistic devices used to stretch this film), including, but not limited to, a motel where the central characters are staying that is about to be foreclosed on by the slimy brother-in-law of the owner; a rich, aspiring politician whose step- son has run away to Ft. Laueerdale for the break; a Penthouse Pet (Corinne Alphin) who should never have ventured into her role as the lead singer of an all-female "rock" band; two virgin males; wet t-shirt contests (both female & male); a bellyflop contest; ... I do have to admit that one of the four main male characters, although reduced to playing the part of a brain-damaged college student, seems to show some promise -- he looks like Fred Willard, and even acts a bit like him. Label this one: Beach Blanket Babylon Goes to the Dogs. ---------- Spring Fever (> PG <) I have not actually seen this one, but was planning to. However, while watching GeneandRoger yesterday, I found out that the ad campaign for this film (which builds it to be another modern day Beach Movie) is totally falacious. It turns out that this film was made two years ago under another title (which I forget), and is actually the story of a tennis tournatment! G&R recommended avoiding this one at all costs. ----------