Movie Review:

Aquamarine

Okay, you’ve found a mermaid in your swimming pool. Now what?

Uptight Claire (Emma Roberts) and her bff Hailey (JoJo) are under-developed 13-year-olds who are crushin’ on the local Florida beach lifeguard Raymond (Jake McDorman) but know it’s hopeless until they get hotter figures. They are also bummed out that Hailey will have to move with her mom to Australia and they may never see each other again.

After a huge storm blows mermaid Aquamarine (Sara Paxton) into the swimming pool at the beachside hotel where the girls hang out for the summer, they are told that mermaids can get human legs during the daytime and this one has a limited time to prove to her fishy dad that love actually exists or she’ll have to marry a merman she hates.

Aqua spots Raymond and targets him. He’s gotta fall for her in three days before her time on land is up. If the girls help Aqua get Raymond, they’ll get a free wish. Complicating matters, is the local bimbo Cecilia (Arielle Kebbel) who wants Ray for her own.

Like the usual teen-aimed film, there are life lessons to learn here; the value of friendship, love and respecting the dreams of others, etc. There is a Disney TV movie feel about it and, if you like that kind of film, you’ll love it. The girls are a little more dorky than you hope you and your friends are so that might also make you feel superior and thus good about the movie. Getting guy tips from teen magazines and actually trying them out on real guys is pretty lame.

There are some funny and charming moments and Emma and JoJo do seem to be genuine friends. Sara makes a beautiful mermaid and the beach looks beautiful. If you and your pals want to take in a cute and harmless fantasy/comedy and especially if you are fans of JoJo, or TV tween stars Sara (from “Darcy’s Wild Life”) or Emma (from “Unfabulous”), then Aquamarine fits your filmgoing bill.

This movie is rated PG

Official Movie Web Site - http://www.aquamarinemovie.com/

Pictures courtesy of and copyright 20th Century Fox, 2006