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By CityAquamarine
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AquamarineWhat was I thinking?
2006-03-09
Article Written by: Sami Jo
This cross between Splash and The Little Mermaid is almost an insult to young girls. Writers Alice Hoffman (novelist who wrote Practical Magic, which also later became a film) and screenwriters Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On) and John Quaintance incorporate some clever dialogue, but the whole concept could have been executed in a more creative fashion. Having Claire (Emma Roberts), who’s parents died from drowning, befriend a mermaid is brilliant, as were complimenting starfish earrings, but these ideas were brought to life in such an unoriginal way!
Just like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Aquamarine (Sara Paxton) has three days to find love on land. The film is directed towards middle-school aged girls, and while I’m sure not many of them have seen Splash, I’m sure the vast majority of them have all seen the Disney movie. Just when Aquamarine gets what she wants, she decides she doesn’t want it anymore, with no indication she was even questioning herself.
The storyline between Claire and her best friend Hailey (JoJo) is sentimentally sweet and hilarious at times, from their fear of being separated when Hailey moves to Austrailia to their obsession with hottie Raymond (Jake McDorman). What doesn’t make sense is their bitter rivalry with Cecilia (Arielle Kebbel). Claire and Hailey are both about to start the eighth grade – Cecilia is driving. Ray is even about to start college. It’s a mess! Unlike the film Thirteen, Aquamarine is very out of touch with its audience.
The most fascinating part of the film was the actors, mainly Emma Roberts and JoJo. Roberts inherited her talent from both her father Eric Roberts and aunt, Julia Roberts. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her, but the young Roberts easily gives the best performance in the film and definitely has the talent to move up. If, by the time Roberts grows up, Hollywood is still looking for the next Julia, Emma may have a shot.
I found it surprising that the director didn’t try to throw in a singing scene for JoJo to capitalize on her career as a pop singer. JoJo’s acting wasn’t anything to write home about, but with so many flaws in the writing, she didn’t have a great character to work with. Look for her in R.V., which also stars Robin Williams.
Fun Movie Facts: The film took place in our great state of Florida (although I have never heard of the town) and Arielle Kebbel is from Winter Park!
