Overview
Seth Gordon directed Baywatch in 2017 and it is an action-comedy film based on the television series that aired in the 90s. The series was and continues to be known for its iconic red swimsuits and slow-motion running. The film remake attempted to broaden the concept with a modern, more crude blend of crime and comedy.
Along with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Zac Efron was also featured in the film, which is based off of a new group of lifeguards that uncover a troubling conspiracy seeking to destroy their beach and the community at large.
Plot Summary
The fictional Emerald Bay is home to the elite Baywatch lifeguard team. Their duties routinely exceed those of mere beach patrols. The team is managed by the respected and dedicated, ultra-mitchell “Mitch” Johnon, who is played by Dwayne Johnson.
Mitch sees Baywatch not simply as a career, but as fulfilling a vision to defend the beach from a myriad of emerging threats.
Tensions come to a head when a new member of the team, Olympic swimmer Matt Brody (Zac Efron), is brought on as part of a PR stunt. Brody’s brash and disrespectful attitude along with Mitch’s strict adherence to discipline and focus on team cohesion create a powder keg waiting to explode.
Joining them are other new recruits along with some old team members:
CJ Parker (Kelly Rohrbach) is a lifeguard with a stunning and kind-hearted personality.
Stephanie Holden (Ilfenesh Hadera) is Mitch’s second in command and is considered to be his closest confidant.
Summer Quinn (Alexandra Daddario) is a new team member overly eager to prove herself. She quickly becomes a team asset and potential love interest for Brody.
In the meantime, Ronnie Greenbaum (Jon Bass) suffers from some poor self image as he is an out of shape techie with a lovable and genuine attitude. He joins the team thanks to his enthusiastic outpouring.
When a councilman’s body washes up on the beach, Mitch suspects a full fledge conspiracy that endangers the bay is afoot. This leads him to Victoria Leeds (Priyanka Chopra), a beautiful but heartless business woman who owns a beach club. He suspects she is using the beach club as a front for drug trafficking and real estate corruption while conducting business moves claiming to be a legitimate entrepreneur.
Even after receiving instructions from local law enforcement to stay in their designated area, the Baywatch crew goes off the book to pursue their own investigation into the criminal enterprise. They include themselves into the case and begin to look deeper into it. Working against the clock, the crew must utilize their skills in strategy, strength, and collaboration to triumph over Victoria and thwart her plans of privatizing the beach and transforming Emerald Bay into a lavish construction site.
The lifeguards are successful in saving Victoria and bringing calm back to the beach after jet skis, fireworks, and lots of creative thinking bring the beach back to lifeguards’s control during the final triump of jetsets.
Characters & Performances
Dwayne Johnson as Mitch Buchannon
Mitch is brought to life with Dwayne Johnson’s usual charm. He is a strong figure from whom the team seeks guidance and inspiration, to a mentor and at times, a stern leader. Mitch is a dynamic character and the reason of lifeguards’s triumph in the movie. Mitch’s character is in-line with the Dwayne Johnson’s persona bringing energy to the movie and uplifting scenes of the movie.
Zac Efron as Matt Brody
As a character from the movie, Efron is introverted and seeks to come off as righteous. The development of his character from a self-centered to a team player is one of the most powerful moving elements in this film. Efron seems to poke fun and overreact the self-centered character but it is aligned with his persona.
Priyanka Chopra as Victoria Leeds
Chopra plays the villain with a blend of cool, sophisticated menace. Despite her role being underwritten, she brings a certain class to the part that counterbalances the heavy slapstick of the film.
Alexandra Daddario as Summer Quinn
Daddario brings both earnestness and confidence to her role, and she doesn’t get overshadowed by Efron and Johnson. The mix of determination and warmth that her character possesses makes her easy to relate to and quite friendly.
Jon Bass as Ronnie
Bass plays the underdog Ronnie, providing humor and acting as a lovable valiant doofus who turns out to be brave and loyal. His subplot is funny, and a bit sentimental.
Along with Hadera, Rohrbach portrays capable female lifeguards who are active participants in the plot and the action scenes, strengthening the narrative.
Tone & Direction
Seth Gordon, known for comedies like Horrible Bosses, attempted to mix the self-aware parody style of 21 Jump Street with the original series’ nostalgic charm. The outcome is a blend of raunchy humor infused with beach action and exaggerated heroics.
In a humorous take on the show’s most recognizable visual element, the film features slow motion scenes as a comedic staple. The lifeguards-turned- detectives humor is self-referential and absurd, and the film includes plenty of self-referential humor.
The comedy features lots of skits that are sexual and crude in nature, with physical mockery and exaggerated props. While some jokes work, others are based on cliches and forced shock value.
Baywatch doesn’t focus on a single theme, but these notable concepts also cross the mind:
Teamwork and Redemption: The film revolves on Matt Brody, a self absorbed athlete, and highlights the actor’s journey into a more selfless character, a big team player.
Integrity and Duty: Even beyond the realm of lifeguarding, Mitch’s belief in protecting the community shows ethics of serving a greater good and moral responsibility.
Public Service and Moral Duty: Several skits tend to mock lifeguards, served with absurd over characterization, rules and jokes to depict critical social concerns.
Reception
Although Critics were not in favor of the movie, they noticed the growing acceptance towards the film thus defining the movie as “light and fun”. Critics focused on the over used and the same old worn out plot that disgusted the humor used in the movie. They focused on the friendship and chemistry between the characters and especially on Johnson and Efron.Regardless of the mixed reviews, the film did moderately well worldwide, grossing about $177 million against a $65 million budget. It gained a modest following from fans who enjoyed the nostalgic feel and the irreverent tone of the film.
Relation to the Original Series
The film Baywatch pays tribute to the TV show Baywatch with the use of character names, the beach locations, and even cameos. Original cast members David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson have cameos, which serve as symbolic passing of the torch moments.
The tone of the movie has a stronger focus on action and humor compared to the TV show, which leaned more into melodrama and beachside adventures. The film reimagines the original premise for a modern audience, embracing the absurdity.
Conclusion
The film Baywatch (2017) is a glossy and action-packed movie which is a comedy at heart. It does not take itself seriously. With the beachside escapism, muscular heroes, and the over-the-top action, the movie does deliver. The movie is full of big laughs and humor with some banter and does not win over fans looking for subtlety or sophisticated storytelling.
Thanks to the charm of Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, this movie has become the perfect summer flick: the sun-drenched surfing and explosive action is accompanied by a healthy dose of laughter—although the laughter and action are not always synced. Efron and Johnson certainly are a treat to watch. For those looking for a laid-back, wedge of family friendly action humor, Baywatch serves up a heaping dose of nostalgia, cleverly updating the original series with a modern twist.
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