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"

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!

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!!!!!

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.