TCM must have been feeling in a strange mood on January 14, 2014. Consecutively they played a string of bad as in really bad musical comedies from the 1960's. OK what was I doing watching this nonsense. Well I was working on an article and I prefer having some noise in the background and it might as well be a movie even if my attention to it is sporadic at best. Of the lot Ski Party had to be the worst of the lot. Take Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman disguising themselves as girls ala Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon in Some Like it Hot but not to escape but instead just to get into the girls dorm. Of course there had to be some guy after one of them. Instead of Joe E. Brown we had some hunk making a fool of himself. But the real knee slapper came when James Brown and the Flames came out in bad, really bad ski sweaters and sang. Unfortunately for James Brown it was all so contrived it was more laughable then it was anything else. Anyway add in some absolutely atrocious special effects along with the bad lines and contrived idiotic situations and you have a - well one really bad movie. Albeit somewhat amusingly entertaining.

Little did I know the beach blanket movie genre had a spin-off that took place on snow instead of sandy beaches. I kick myself after watching one of these flicks because I should know better, but I'm trying to be a well rounded movie watcher for the purpose of these reviews. I kind of get the Frankie Avalon team up with Dwayne Hickman, but gee, who did Annette tick off to warrant a mere cameo here? I didn't understand that one at all.You need a reason to tune in to this one? It would be Lesley Gore singing one of her minor hits "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows", and at the other end of the musical spectrum, James Brown belting out "I Feel Good". I'm a little surprised actually that Brown didn't screw himself into the floor with the gyrating footwork, man it was hard to keep up with. And you know something, I can't even remember him ever being backed up by The Flames. So at least I learned something today.As for the story, don't even ask. Frankie Avalon had no qualms inquiring about the average audience age for this flick, so when his partner answered '15', that said it all. Actually, Dwayne Hickman put everything in perspective when as his female character Nora, he stated to Jane (also Avalon), "Listen, have a piece of fruit. You'll feel better." That's the best advice for this movie I can think of.

This is a fun a movie and worth at least to watch one time. this takes a person back when sex wasn't a dirty word for 15 year olds. it treats the young watcher with respect. guess what the guys chase the girls and the girls chase back. in today's moral climate even that seems a no no. if anything it's too mature for the one who wants hanna montanna making noises with her armpits. haver fun and relax and learn to grow up a little. and yes it's OK for boys to like girls and vice versa despite what your pastor has been telling you. there's no catch it's just fun. you won't fall out of your chair laughing. it's not widely funny it's just fun. and that's enough for me.

A friend of mine came over last night and we were both feeling kind of run down after the holidays, so we wanted something "light". He brought three "Frankie and Annette" films over (this, plus MUSCLE BEACH PARTY and BIKINI BEACH) and I figured they had to be fun, and with some cute chicks and all.... but oh, brother! Since it's winter we decided to watch this first, even though it comes later in this series, and Annette Funicello isn't in it except for a really quick cameo where she plays a teacher at the beginning. The thing plays like another version of SOME LIKE IT HOT, with Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman as two buddies who go on a skiing trip and wind up dressing in drag while they try to make time with Yvonne Craig and Deborah Walley. Hell, they even mention SOME LIKE IT HOT in the movie! This film doesn't have much to recommend in it, and I figured going in that it had to be the least of the three movies we'd watch... but who knew it would turn out to be the "best"? At least this film had a story, even if it's clichéd. My favorite moment involved Lesley Gore popping up on the bus trip to sing her big hit "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows", and then later on getting to enjoy James Brown belt out "I Got You (I Feel Good)". These two musical performances were the shining light. ** out of ****