Synopsis
The 2015 comedy American Beach House was directed and released by Strand Releasing and written by Jake Helgren. Situated along California’s beautiful and world-renowned coast, the movie centers on a group of strangers who win a vacation and wind up renting a beach house. While the movie centers on the beach and the promise of relaxation, the real diversion comes from the odd interplay of the people, the unanticipated happenings, and the beach house lessons each person learns.
The movie centers on a group of six young adults from varying parts of the country, each looking to win a contest that enables a stay at a luxurious beach house. Each of the characters is from a different walk of life and has varying motivations. While some are chasing their dreams, others are merely trying to get a break from their daily grind, and a few are just looking for some unabashed fun.
The group comprises characters including Samantha, a wannabe actress looking to score; Liam, a surfer who is more inclined towards the beach life and has a zen outlook; Tasha, whose beach house ideals are more 23rd century; and Vinny, who considers himself an entrepreneur and is always cooking up some new scheme.
Initially, the group members have difficulty getting along, but as they spend time in the beach house, they begin to participate in certain beach games, take local outings, and bond over a series of humorous mishaps. The film depicts a seamless transition from lighthearted comedy towards heartfelt deepening of connections, in the form of team-building activities and conversations away from the beach, and around the ocean.
The development of new friendships, self-discovery, and personal growth are the main themes, notwithstanding the film’s lighthearted nature. In increasingly revealing interactions during the vacation, each character confidentially shares about their background, aspirations and vulnerabilities. Although their stay is intended as a routine break, the time spent in the beach house becomes a vital shift for many of the characters.
The film’s climax centers around each character’s performance in the local talent showcase, which is the first time they are able to take a significant step outside their comfort zone. The closing scene depicts a celebration of their det, and the transformation they each went through over the course of the week, symbolized by the friendships they forged during the sunshine activities.
Main Characters
Samantha
Samantha is one of the principal characters in the film. Exhibiting ambition coupled with slight nervousness, Samantha seeks the much-awaited clarity or opportunity toward her dream of becoming an actress. Samantha grows in confidence in the course of the film and learns to develop true friendships that help her appreciate the worth she has beyond the focal point of her ambitions.
Liam
Liam is the typical carefree beachgoer. He is an exceptional surfer and is always in a good mood, serving the crowd with comedic relief. Nevertheless, as the movie develops, the audience learns of his deeper thoughtfulness and ability to give help through wisdom and emotional support when others are in need.
Tasha
Tasha is stylish, intelligent, and outspoken. She initially seems to focus on the superficial, but she has a more down-to-earth and empathetic personality, as shown when she is helping others with their objectives. She became a true friend to the others on the trip and, with the trip, came renewed inspiration to pursue her career.
Cooper
As the captain of the ship and members the the first ship of the group, Cooper is the first ship of the group. Even captains need to attend to each of the messes the rest of the group, and fix the holes. Even joking, Cooper is a helper.
Brooke
Brooke is often silent until the group joins in discussion, helping the group to cement the ideas. In her own way, she assembles her ideas in a fashion to bring the discussion or meeting of a group to a cheerful close.
Vinny
Vinny is a tenacious pitchman and chief his own business. Doing everything to set and follow his plan, and achieve the goals set in his agenda. He simply works his goals in a step by step fashion, and picks his business goal first.
Tone and Style
In order to feel light and carefree, one need to step fashion, and gain the goals set in his agenda. By moving from goal to the step business in a light step, one feels as though one is moving to the goals set in the agenda.
The humor throughout the film is soft and situational. Much of it stems from character idiosyncrasies and misunderstandings, and the group dynamics of trying to cohabit. Mishaps during cooking, unplanned dance competitions, and various games at the beach provide the essenrials of a light vacation comedy and situational humor.
There are no missed opportunities in the film’s coastal setting. The visuals and filmography provide stunning complements to the various beach-related activities, from sunrises and bonfires to lazy days at the beach, and the cinematic rhythm consistent in the warm colors, open skies, and panoramic views of the ocean, is reinforcing the very feeling of escape and all the vistas of opportunities that lay ahead.
Though ostensibly a light comedy, American Beach House gently approaches the issues of self-perception and self-acceptance, tying it to the narrative and making the comedy situational.
Self-Discovery: Before coming to the beach house, every character is either deciding something or still in uncertainty, in a state of their own. By the end of their time, a good part of that uncertainty is clarified and self-accepted in a confident manner.
Friendship: The film shows how support and strength of a group can be constructed through the most unanticipated of bonds, made of disparate and opposing individuals.
Teamwork and Communication: The active group challenges, be it structuring an activity or coping with their layered personal issues, smoothly embrace the importance of collective action and the balance of conflicting elements.
Gratitude for The Present Time: The film’s euphoric atmosphere carries a positive connotation which emphasizes the importance of appreciating the ‘little things’ in life: a sunset, new experiences, or the companionship of excellent company.
Response
American Beach House has not made a significant impact on popular cinema, however, in the arena of casual indie comedies, and cinema centered around the beach, it is considered a light “feel good” movie. It is also considered light and enjoyable for those who appreciate stories centered around an ensemble cast and vacations.
People seem to like the positive and carefree atmosphere of the film. There are no big stars or dramatic scenes to make the movie a box office success, The movie is what it is suppose to be, a light comedy, in a summery atmosphere, where strangers become friends and help each other, and in the process learn about themselve.
Final thoughts
American Beach House is a relaxed form of comedy which tries to focus on the fact that in certain situations, especially in form of a new environment, there can be, significant and positive, change. The film has the positive, relaxed and reinforced visuals, with the cheerful and ensemble characters, which help in the positive feeling , while in the form of a vacation, to the audience.
While not overly ambitious, it resonates with audiences on the importance of companionship, joy, and little breaks to help individuals in the process of self-discovery. For those in search of light-hearted humor, or those looking to enjoy a narrative of personal development and relationships, the American Beach House provides a delightful escape.
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