Search - Where the Boys Are on DVD

Don't Be Mislead By Superficial Reviews

Robert M. Khoury | Charlotte, NC | 01/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don't be mislead by superficial reviews of a supposedly superficial movie. This is a movie for everyone who ever went someplace else to find himself. A group of teen-aged girls go on a road trip to Ft. Lauderdale to spend Spring Break. On the way, they join some guys who are doing the same thing. As each of them finds peace with his or her own personal dilemma, they emerge as adults ready to face adult obligations. They will have problems, even big ones, but you can see that because they know more about themselves and each other, they will be able to face their futures with wisdom and courage. Everyone, and I mean, everyone in the cast performs beautifully. The film is funny, moving, insightful, and entertaining and I haven't changed my opinion since I first saw it when I was a lost teen. Maybe I'm getting more out of it than the author intended, but this film will make you care about the characters and feel good about the future, your own and everyone else's."

Classic joy

Jim Andrews | Chicago, Illinois USA | 11/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The strangest part of this film was the obvious decision that Connie Francis was not beautiful enough to play a romantic dramatic lead. So they cast her as sort of a Nancy Walker type comedienne, supposedly not attractive enough to be taken seriously but just perfect for comic relief. But watching the film that makes no sense. First, Francis steals every scene she's in. Second, she is absolutely darling. Third, as Paula Prentiss herself has said, it's hard to swallow Connie as someone who couldn't get a date, or a handsome date, since what guy could resist such a cute, right-there, sparkling, personable girl. This odd casting aside, the film has stood the test of time, is still fresh, fun, beguiling, tuneful and without one wasted moment. All the leading ladies are wonderful and went onto interesting careers (one as a nun). The leading guys did all right too. This made a ton of moolah for a very pleased M-G-M Pictures, found a big college audience, and is still refreshing entertainment."

"Where the boys are...someone waits for me..."

Kona | Emerald City | 11/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's Spring Break, and four man-hungry coeds leave the Midwest snow behind for fun in the sun in Ft. Lauderdale. Brainy Merritt (Dolores Hart) falls hard for an Ivy Leaguer, Tuggle (Paula Prentiss) pairs up with a comedian, singer Angie (Connie Francis) falls for a musician and sweet Melanie (Yvette Mimieux) wants to bag a real Yalie.

Has it really been 45 years since "WTBA" was first released? Just hearing the opening notes of the gorgeous theme song brings back 1960 in all its glory, when girls went to college to find a husband, college men were still called "boys," and there wasn't a Girl Gone Wild on the whole beach. Compared to today's teen flicks, this is quite innocent, although some of the dialogue was considered racy at the time. It's all about what good girls would and wouldn't do, with (pre-tan) George Hamilton dropping some pretty corny lines on the ethereal Dolores Hart.

If you have fond memories of one-piece bathing suits and shirt-waist dresses, join Connie in singing the theme song and relive those wonderful days. Highly recommended."

Good Beach Flick

DonnaReviews | Northeast USA | 11/30/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Where the Boys Are" has many things going for it and at the top of that list would be Paula Prentiss who makes her film debut here. In fact, it was her interview in the DVD extras that so enchanted me that it colored the whole film in an even rosier light. She is fun, ebullient, warm, and has nary a bad word for anyone, but she is also so unpretentious and open that it provided a lot of insight into what it was like to work on a film, fresh out of college and ironically at a location which she had missed on her own spring break.

The film tells the story of a group of girls on spring break in Ft. Lauderdale and the romances they encounter there, but as one reviewer here pointed out, it's not exactly "Beach Blanket Bingo." There's the fun 60's comic side of the film similar to "Beach Blanket Bingo" and other "madcap" comedies of that era, but there's also a deeper side with some serious issues raised about "date rape." The film is fairly well cast and pleasant to watch. It also has a real jazz score and Connie Francis performing and singing the title tune. Additionally, it's easy on the eye with great, candy-colorful costumes; beautiful on-location scenery including a panoramic shot of Ft. Lauderdale in full swing; a silly climax in a fish tank with the whole cast practically getting wet; and some unusual names for characters.

All in all, I'd say this one is a keeper and a classic in its own right. It may not be quite an "A" picture, so I didn't give it 4 stars, but it is a really fine film of its kind, mixing breezy, silly, 60's comedy with issues that were going to explode in the coming decade. And the stars are just great. I thoroughly enjoyed all the extras -- not only the wonderful, refreshing Paula Prentiss commentaries, but also a documentary that highlighted both Prentiss and Francis interviews.

One of the best of the beach flicks.
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