There's no sugar-coating it: Baywatch is utterly ridiculous from start to finish.
But it knows that, it did that on purpose and it isn't making any apologies for it.
Just looking at its source material, it's obvious this reboot was never going to be a cinematic masterpiece. Baywatch is laden with penis jokes, sex jokes, race-based humour, stereotypes, objectification and plain nonsense, but somehow, it is still an undeniably good time.
Everything is over the top - from The Rock bursting out of the sea with a gaudy "Baywatch" title floating above him and some fake dolphins flying around in the background, to the entire storyline itself.
But it's done in a fairly meta, tongue-in-cheek way, with characters pointing out the ridiculousness throughout the film.
Zac Efron plays the pretty-but-dumb stereotype, the resident bad boy sent to Baywatch to serve community service under the leadership of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but in true Baywatch style, it's never actually about lifesaving.
The scantily-clad crew risk life and limb and go undercover at least twice to take down an elaborate drug ring, solve multiple murders and "save the bay" from sinister property developers.
The film relies heavily on its bro-movie humour and the chemistry between Efron and Johnson (and the fact that a bunch of beautiful people are often half-naked on screen).
Of course, the sexism is still rampant, a man is fat-shamed for humour and made to be the tech nerd, and the villain Victoria Leeds (Priyanka Chopra) spouts out feminist rhetoric like "if I were a man you'd call me driven", which doesn't appear to say much for the creators' view of feminists.
But here's the thing about Baywatch: You don't go to this film for cinematic value, great acting, good storytelling or socially responsibility. You go for an easy laugh, some mindless entertainment and a strange dose of nostalgia.
Is it a good movie? Not by any stretch of the imagination. But is it a good time? Yes. You just have to know what you're in for first.
Cast: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Zac Efron, Priyanka Chopra
Director: Seth Gordon
Rating: R13 Violence, offensive language and sexual themes
Running time: 116 mins
Verdict: The most ridiculous film ever, but that's kind of the appeal
- TimeOut
