Considering my initial skepticism to a teen-comedy that sounded like a bad rip-off on “Splash!”, I was pleasantly surprised by Aquamarine. The film has little to do with Splash! and more to do with teenage crushes, hunky-and-dorky lifeguards, mermaids with issues, teenie-meanies (the IT girls), about love and friendship all wrapped in a nice tickle-me-silly-I-have-a-stupid-grin-on-my-face bundle of humour.

The story concerns two teenagers - Claire & Hailey - living in Tampa, Fl., who are about to have their sweet world crumble because Claire’s marine-biologist mom will have to move to Australia to take on a new job. The teenagers share a mutual crush on Ray, the afore-mentioned lifeguard, and giggle themselves silly in his presence. One stormy night, a mermaid washes up to the girls’ pool. She is Aquamarine, and has run away from home, because her Dad doesn’t believe in the notion of love and wants her to get married to a dufus she despises.
The girls have three days to set Aquamarine up with Ray so that Aqua can prove her dad wrong, and the girls will be granted a wish. But there is a slight hitch, Ray is also sought after by Cecilia, the rich spoiled brat (is there any other?) who doesn’t take nicely to the competition.

The three female leads - Claire (Roberts), Hailey (Levesque) and Aqua (Paxton) - share an excellent rapport resulting in a film that brims with moments of geniune warmth and humour. First time director Elizabeth Allen has handled the subject matter skillfully avoiding the many pritfalls that plague regular teen-comedies (read melodramatic content & predictable endings). The film has been captured from teenagers POVs - their unbridled enthusiasm and energy, their pets (a goldfish called MOBY) and peeves (Cecilia & her posse), their petty fights, their rebellion (”I don’t want to go to Australia”) and the gradual realization of the mechanism of nature at work.

Considering some of the expensive turkeys that are doing the rounds of the plexes in the name of comedies (about break-ups, and unwanted house-guests), Aquamarine ends up delivering more value for your money. I liked it, and wasn’t bored for a minute.

Running Time: 109 minutes.
MPAA Rating: PG for mild language and sensuality.
Cast: Emma Roberts, Joanna Levesque, Sara Paxton
Director: Elizabeth Allen