accessAtlanta

City & State or ZIP Tonight, this weekend, May 5th...
City & State or ZIP
City & State or ZIP Tonight, this weekend, May 5th...
City & State or ZIP

Pre-teen girls will find 'Aquamarine' just the right color


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Warning: If you're a male between 5 and 95, "Aquamarine," a junior chick flick about two pre-pubescent girls who find and befriend a mermaid, could make you green at the gills.

However, if you are now or ever have been a girl of 8 to 13, you'll be occasionally charmed by the giggly bonds of girlfriends and "guppie love" the film portrays — but also occasionally green at the gills.

20th Century Fox

'Aquamarine'

C

The verdict: "Splash" for the Seventeen magazine set.

Director: Elizabeth Allen
Starring: Emma Roberts, Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque, Sara Paxton, Jake McDorman, Arielle Kebbel
Run time: 109 minutes
Release date: March 3, 2006
Rating: PG for mild language and sensuality.
See showtimes

On the web
Official movie site
View the trailer
   Trailers require Quicktime

Rate 'Aquamarine'
  Go see it
  Make it a matinee
  Wait to rent
  Don't bother


Voter Limit: Once per Hour
View Poll Results

Based on Alice Hoffman's popular book, "Aquamarine" (Sara Paxton) is a beautiful 18-year-old mermaid who washes up in the swimming pool of a Florida seaside resort after a storm. She's found by two 13-year-old best friends, Claire (Emma Roberts, niece of Julia) and Hailey (Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, a pop music starlet).

Hailey's divorced mother has accepted a job in Australia. The girls — desperate to stay together — agree to help Aquamarine find love in exchange for granting their wish for Hailey not to move. To their dismay, the object of Aqua's affection is hunky lifeguard Raymond, whom they've mooned over all summer.

Nevertheless, the girls sacrifice him to Aqua and teach her coquettish tricks they've gleaned from teen magazines. It's a bit disconcerting that despite a century of feminism these are the same tricks Scarlett O'Hara used to steal husbands.

As we learned from "Splash" more than 20 years ago, mermaids have their own rules. During the day, they can walk on legs, but revert to a tail at night. Aqua must spend her nights in the town water tank, and trouble, as they say, ensues.

Like a kid with a new toy, first-time director Elizabeth Allen makes us seasick as she uses the camera to randomly speed the action up or slo-mo it down (for lusty shots of dreamboat Raymond). And her powder-pink cotton candy concoction is as insubstantial as the airy kids treat. While it will be gobbled up by preteen girls, it's just too gooey for anyone else.

For those girls, playing mermaid in the pool is a universal rite of passage — soon followed by slumber parties and flirting with boys. "Aquamarine" makes a direct hit on its target by firing on all those fronts.

But SOS, boys — abandon ship.


Inside AJC.COM

Atlanta's best shoe store

Atlanta's best shoe store

Is it therapy to buy a pair of shoes? Discuss ... or nominate your favorite place to find those shoes!

More meat, please

More meat, please

McDonald's has unveiled a line of bigger burgers that will satisfy large appetites and scare cardiologists.

BET Awards

BET Awards

Photos: Janet Jackson, Monica, Maxwell, Jamie Foxx, New Edition, Keri Hilson, Ciara and more!

Private Quarters Splurge

Private Quarters Splurge

Husband and wife architects created a modern house that's still warm and inviting.

She lost 60 pounds!

She lost 60 pounds!

"My confidence is through the roof ... I can do anything," says Sonya Moste of Fayetteville.

Ultimate Braves fans

Ultimate Braves fans

Francoeur's Franks? Shef's Chefs? Just some of the passionate fans who have cheered the team.

Sign up for AJC's Weekend events newsletter

Kudzu.com services Find the right people for the job

Keyword     Business Name