Baywatch aims for a similar concept to 21 Jump Street: a raunchy action-comedy satirizing, while also paying homage to, a 90s TV drama. Yet where both 21 Jump Street and its sequel 22 Jump Street wildly succeed, Baywatch falls disappointingly short. Baywatch lacks the Jump Street films’s sidesplitting comedy, witty self-references and meta-humor, clever examinations towards genre tone-shifts, hilarious trope-breaking twists, enjoyable antagonists, fluent pacing, and an overall lighthearted nature. For an over-the-top action-comedy satire, Baywatch gets surprisingly lackluster at times. Fault goes to Baywatch’s long stretches of comedy-free scenes where the film takes its story far too seriously. I think it should be made a rule that any film where a guy gets his erect junk stuck between two planks of wood should never try to do anything even remotely serious. Baywatch has a few good laughs here and there, but the jokes mostly fall flat, with not even The Rock’s charming nature being capable of keeping the film afloat.
For an R-rated film based on a show notorious for gratuitous booty shots and slow motion boob bouncing, Baywatch strangely lacks in the fanservice department. Now I’m usually against gratuitous nudity and objectification, but for such a bland R-rated popcorn film, Baywatch could have definitely used with some topless/sex scenes. Baywatch tries to replicate 21 Jump Street’s success to unfortunately failed results. You’re better off watching the Jump Street films, or viewing Moana if all you desire is The Rock in the ocean.
Rough Night:
The premise has been done before, and the premise will be done again: a bachelor/bachelorette party goes comically wrong. So what does Rough Night offer to stand out from the crowd? Well, for one, it’s funny—not sidesplittingly hysterical, but enough chuckle-worthy material (as well as several laugh out loud moments) to succeed at its core existence. Rough Night’s second strength is its likable cast of colorful characters. The film’s five main heroines, in addition to the protagonist’s adorkable fiancé, are entertainingly agreeable characters each with their own standout moments and traits. Some of my favorite scenes involve the cinnamon roll fiancé, including his “crazy” bachelor party and Sad Astronaut drive to Miami. Go into Rough Night expecting a lighthearted good time, nothing more, and you’ll most likely be pleasantly surprised.