Wuchak RELEASED IN 1989 and directed by Zelda Barron, "Shag" is a teen drama about four girls freshly graduated from high school taking a vacation weekend at Myrtle Beach in 1963. There's the senator's daughter, Luanne (Page Hannah); the engaged or encaged Carson (Phoebe Cates); the wannabe Hollywood starlet Malaina (Bridget Fonda); and the thinks-she's-still-fat-but-she's-not Pudge (Annabeth Gish).The movie plays like a melding of "American Graffiti" (1973), "Dirty Dancing" (1987) and "Mystic Pizza" (1988). It's far superior to the overrated "American Graffiti" and lacks the idiot subplot of "Dirty Dancing" (see my reviews of both for details). The script thrusts the four girls into the weekend festivities at Myrtle Beach as quickly as possible wherein the story splits into several vignettes that intertwine. The weekend highpoints include: A beauty contest on the beach, a wild house party at the senator's vacation home (unbeknownst to him, of course) and a shag dance contest. Thematically, the flick tries to advocate the wise middle ground between life-stifling legalism and foolish libertinism. Some have called this a "chick flick" and I can see why since the focus is on the four girls, but there's just as much here for dudes to relate. For instance, there are several voluptuous cuties on display, both in the main cast and in the periphery. Kudos to the director for his excellent eye for women. Bridget Fonda is particularly showcased in all her glory with her white bikini scenes being a highlight. She was 23 when the film was shot in 1987. There are also several prominent guys in the cast: Harley (Tyrone Power Jr.), Buzz (Robert Rusler), Chip (Scott Coffey), Jimmy Valentine (Jeff Yagher) and, to a lesser extent, the manager (Paul Lieber) and Big Bob (Jay Baker).Lastly, the movie features a great period soundtrack with excellent cuts like "Stay" by The Voltage Brothers, performed (lip-synced) at The Pavilion. THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 38 minutes and was shot entirely in South Carolina (Georgetown, Myrtle Beach & Florence). WRITERS: Lanier Laney, Terry Sweeney & Robin Swicord.GRADE: B+

TheExpatriate700 Shag (or as it's billed on DVD, Shag: The Movie) is your basic late 80s dance nostalgia film, one of several that came out in the wake of Dirty Dancing. It provides relatively bland, inoffensive fare, with an ending you'll be able to predict ten minutes in.The film ticks off all the basic 'chick flick' plot points. The characters are all from stock casting: the staid upper class girl, the nervous bride to be, the overweight girl (played by Annabeth Gish, who is at most somewhat busty), and the promiscuous girl. The love interests develop in a predictable manner, and you will be able to guess who goes with whom midway through. They also throw in the typical feminist lite message of women asserting themselves.Overall, the film paints a nice, sanitized vision of the early 1960s. (Although one wishes that the filmmakers had had the sense not to have characters dancing around with Confederate flags in segregation era South Carolina. They could also have dropped the sassy black maid.) There is some nice period era music, and the dancing at the end is pretty good.

William Charming, colorful, and spirited are a few words I can apply to "Shag - The Movie." In case you're wondering, the title is referring to a style of dancing that was popular in southern U.S. beach communities during the late 1950's, and through the 1960's. "Shag" is the kind of movie in which the viewer may wish they were there; partaking in everything that's happening between old and new friends. Friendship is the basis of the movie, which is set in the summer of 1963. The main characters are four girls who have one final fling before they go their separate ways into adulthood. Carson (Phoebe Cates) is engaged to be married to an up-and-coming tobacco tycoon named Harley (Tyrone Power Jr.) Luanne (Page Hannah) is the daughter of a wealthy senator. Caroline (Annabeth Gish) goes by "Pudge" as a nickname. She has a reputation for being overweight even though she's turning into a slimmer young woman. Melaina (Bridget Fonda) is rebellious, and has a sexually liberated attitude. Four girls who are often as different as can be, but they're still the best of friends. Their friendship is sometimes tested when they reach the destination of their final fling: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Throughout the movie common teen subjects arise: Alcohol, sex, careers, future plans, dating, and marriage are some of the subjects discussed. Naturally guys come into play, and the characters of Buzz (Robert Rusler) and Chip (Scott Coffey) are introduced. Buzz is free-spirited and lively. Chip is a young man on his way to becoming a Marine. Along the way Carson and Buzz develop an attraction for each other, which threatens Carson's engagement to Harley. The relationship between Carson and Buzz grows, and soon Carson finds it difficult to stop herself from being drawn to him. Eventually Harley shows up in Myrtle Beach, which creates some surprises for everyone. Luanne and Harley have a respect for each other, but there also seems to be a hint of a mutual interest between them. Pudge and Chip hit it off, and plan to enter the shag dance contest. Their growing relationship is interesting, because it's not immediately known if Chip likes Pudge as much as she likes him. The character of Melaina goes through a few phases, but her main goal is to nab a career in Hollywood. Cliff-hangers seem to be common throughout "Shag - The Movie": Will Carson break off her engagement to Harley, and find love with Buzz? Would a break-up lead Harley to Luanne? Will Pudge and Chip find they love each other, and will they still be in the shag contest? Will Melaina be discovered, and be on her way to Hollywood? Will the parents find out the girls lied by going to Myrtle Beach instead of going on an educational tour? Obviously these are answered by the film's end, but along the way there are fun times to be had! One big party, meeting a teen idol, a beauty contest, and the shag contest provide lots of fun. Tender moments, competition, and conflicts keep the movie well grounded. The summer of 1963 is re-created with amusement park rides, jukeboxes, carhops, vintage cars, and music. The soundtrack is made of new versions of songs that had been hits in that era, and also original vintage oldies. The soundtrack also features new, original recordings, but they don't always have an authentic sound (this is the only negative comment I have on the entire movie.) Sets, props and locations fit well with the 1963 setting. The movie is well filmed, well scripted, and contains a lot of memorable dialogue. The humor is satisfying more on a delightful scale, and there doesn't seem to be an attempt at too many big laughs. In this case a more subtle style of humor works very well, and adds to the charm of the movie. The entire cast does a wonderful job! Each performance is well-crafted, and the cast is full of talent. The interactions of the actors and the chemistry between each character keep the movie fun and high-spirited. "Shag - The Movie" is a crowd pleaser for all audiences, and worth multiple viewings. Put on your shagging shoes, and enjoy a movie that really is the bee's knees!

Pepper Anne Shag is a pretty laid back, Saturday afternoon variety of 80s movies.Set in South Carolina in the 1960s, it is the story of a group of girls who take a road trip out to Myrtle Beach for the week before their friend goes off to get married. Consider it, a bachelorette weekend. Only, bad girl Melanie Buller (Bridget Fonda), soft-spoken Caroline 'Pudge' (Anabeth Gish), and exceedingly proper Luann (Page Hannah) have more in mind for their conservative engaged friend, Carson (Cates) than lying on the beach and catching a tan. The girls try to get Carson to break out of her conservative, timid shell and let loose and have some fun while she's still legally single. But, in fact, there is more in store for everyone during their wild stay at the summer house, not just Carson. Specifically, all this happens when the girls arrive at the summer home and meet two rambunctious guys. Robert Russler plays the suave romantic, Buzz who pursues hard-to-get Carson who keeps insisting that, despite whatever feelings and attractions she can't help but to feel for Buzz, she's going to be married to some boring stiff named Harley (Power). Basically, she is all rules, and he isn't. Is Harley who she really wants to be with? The other guy is Scott Coffey, with his typical red-headed buzz cut who becomes 'Pudges' new friend in a very young puppy love kind of relationship as well as her dance partner in a Shag contest in which she's up against Melanie's rival, two vicious local babes who don't like the group. Melanie is constantly competing with them in beauty contests, for boyfriends, etc. Everyone's various going-ons turns into a giant disaster as they all try to keep things going smoothly. Carson is falling for Buzz about the same time Harley announces he's coming out to the house. Luann's house is practically destroyed as they all get drunk and a bunch of locals invite themselves in for a huge bash about the same time Luann's parents announce they're coming out to the beach. It all turns into a wild mess, and makes for a pretty funny series of events and quite a cute story. Loaded with plenty of familiar actors during their prime years, this is a fun story particularly recommended for female 80s fans. This is just a movie about a bunch of girls try to cut loose before their friend heads off to get married, and one that has established itself as a cult classic.