BAYWATCH

US, 2017, 116 minutes, Colour.
Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Pryanka Chopra, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jon Bass, Yahya Abdul Mateen II.
Directed by Seth Gordon.

Yet another movie version of a popular television series of the past. In fact, in the latter part of the 1980s to 2000, the series, Baywatch, had over 200 episodes, capitalising on the popularity of David Hasselhoff and the glamour of Pamela Anderson. Both of them have cameo rules here, Hasselhoff being particularly unconvincing in his scene with Dwayne Johnson in an IT shop, but pleasant in chat during the final credits, and Pamela Anderson, in the last minutes, sashaying on to the set without saying a word (perhaps she never had to).

Dwayne Johnson has proven to be a very popular action hero in a wide range of films, including some of the Fast and Furious actioners. Here he is incarnating Hasselhoff in 2017, a strong presence on the beach, absolutely dedicated to his lifeguard job, often giving speeches about teamwork and team effort. On the other hand, there is Zac Efron as Brody, an Olympic medallist who has blown his chances, not a team player at all, self-satisfied with few grounds for this self-opinion, rather dopey in his general knowledge. He works on the presumption that he is God’s gift to the world and, of course, is to be taken down a peg (well, a long ldder of pegs) as he displays his skills but is defeated by Johnson.

And then there are the female lifeguards, Kelly Rohrbach incarnating CJ (Pamela Anderson’s role) but a bright, strong, glamorous presence along with Stephanie (Ilfenesh Hadera) the 2IC. Alexandra Daddario is a trainee – who, not quite inevitably, will finish up kissing Zac Efron.

There is also another would-be trainee, Ronnie, played by Jon Bass, rather in the vein of Jonah Hill, in need of some exercise, sex-preoccupied (Rather more explicitly than might have been expected), bringing to mind that Zac Efron has been described as “cocky�, rather emphasising a thematic presentation throughout the film. And, of course, in the tradition of the series, there is quite a bit of ogling.

Baywatch can’t exist on friendships and rivalries alone so a drug theme is introduced, with a Dragon Lady, Victoria Leeds (Priyanka Chopra), lording it over the local police and city councillors, importing drugs, wanting to buy up local property, with thugs to impose her presumptuous will.

Brody has conversion experience after letting down the team, has rushed into some rescue operations recklessly, now wants to do his best – but this is sorely tested when they go to the local morgue to check on a murdered councillor (a reminder that there is no personal privacy in a morgue), hide themselves in containers and have a very upsetting experience.

The plot and the trapping of the Dragon Lady (and her dispatch) are comparatively innocuous, as is the whole thing, despite the ogling and the frequent innuendo.

1. Popularity of the television series, over 200 episodes? The 70s? Adaptation for 2017?

2. The beach, the sea, the lifeguards, the police, the city, clubs and socials? Action on stunts? The songs of the period?

3. The touch of ogling, the emphasis on “cocky�? The tone?

4. Dwayne Johnson as Mitch, in David Hasselhoff’s tradition, the appearances by David Hasselhoff? In himself, his speeches about team spirit, his leadership, the tests for the trainees, the encounter with Brody, ignoring him, the competition and rivalry? The trainees, Ron and his support? CJ and Stephanie? The lifeguards in action, saving the mother and children at the pier, the fire on the ship, the clash with the police chief, the role of Thorpe, Victoria and the drugs, her coming to the beach and his encounter with her, the party, the search, the death of the councillor, his corpse at the morgue, the comic episode in the morgue, the chases and fights, his being fired by Thorpe? Going to the IT shop, the visit of David Hasselhoff, the contact for rescuing Brody, his being shot, the final confrontation with Victoria, the canon and her being shot, the helicopter? Happy reunion – the new team running along the beach?

5. Brody, Zac Efron’s screen presence, his Olympic record, the medals, his vomiting, not being a team person, on probation, appointed to be lifeguard, his self-importance, but intellectually dopey, the cheeky response to Mitch, the tests and his activities, his being beaten? Attraction, spurning him, glance at her breasts…? With CJ? With Ron? At the party, supposed to be on the lookout, drunk, falling into the pool, his being sorry? The foreign ownership, his going into the danger, the risks? At the morgue, his bursting out of the container? The body and the shark attack? His job, expectations, the final confrontation, Victoria taunting him, in the cage, Mitch rescuing him? The kiss with, Summer, part of the team?

6. Ronnie, gawky and awkward, with Dave in the IT, CJ, erection, stuck, pulled out? Allowed as a trainee, His work and dedication? In the showers and his embarrassment? His Involvement with the Team, the Mad Dance and distracting Victoria, the IT and the fireworks?

7. CJ, strong, Stephanie as the deputy? Summer and her work?

8. Victoria, the Dragon Lady, the drugs, the confrontation with the councillor, his asking for payment, the thugs, his death and the burning of the boat? Meeting Mitch on the beach? The invitation to the party? A hard woman, the dangers, the drugs, the murders? Ronnie and his stands? The confrontation with Brody, the cage? The finale and her being shot by the canon?

9. The police officer, his preoccupation with jurisdiction, the clashes with Mitch? His being proved wrong at the end?

10. Thorpe, in charge, paid for by Victoria, introducing Brody, firing Mitch?

11. The drug scheme, the drugs on the beach, the party, the club, the fish and the deliveries, the facts?

12. A popular plot, characters, beach story, humour?