Aquamarine - A Movie Review

Let’s go swimming in the ocean with the mermaids today.

Aquamarine swam into theaters in 2006. Two teenage girls discover a mermaid in a swimming pool. Offering the girls one wish, the girls set out on a journey to help Aquamarine prove that love exists.

When I was little, I used to pretend to be a mermaid whenever I swam in the ocean. Aquamarine immediately caught my interest. Rewatching it years later as an adult, I was surprised by how much the story had a contrasting impact on me. Aquamarine is a story about growth and accepting change.

Emma Roberts and Jojo sold their terrific chemistry. They built a fun friendship where they talked about boys, shared their deepest secrets, and laughed around. The life of teenagers is not easy. Each having their own dilemmas, the girls learn to overcome these obstacles. Meeting Aquamarine turns everything around for the better.

Sarah Paxton had the time of her life bringing Aquamarine to life. The mermaid tail that she wore weighed over 100 pounds! Aside from having a four-hour preparation to get set up into hair and makeup, Paxton also had a month of intensive training to make a believable mermaid. Oh, and she actually ate sardines to really feel the part of a mermaid! That takes commitment.

Having confidence that is out of this world, Aquamarine is determined to prove that love is real. I enjoyed Aquamarine’s quirky personality as she adapts to the human world. Paxton delved into this role and created a figure for all young girl audiences to look up to.

There are a lot of colorful characters in Aquamarine. Most of whom we can relate to in our teen years. There’s the crush, the bully, and the parents. Credits go to Jake McDormand, Arielle Kebbel, Claudia Karvan, Bruce Spence, Tammin Sursok, and many more.

Although I am glad that Ray (McDormand) was given a character, and not just labeled as the crush, he is the worst hero you will ever meet. Believing that Ray is the one to prove love exists, the interactions between him and Aquamarine are sweet. Still, I am not sure if Ray is a sincere character. He believes anything he is told, instead of investigating for himself.

Was the film trying to create a subplot for Cecelia (Kebbel)? As the stereotypical bully of the film, for a bit, Cecelia is given screentime to help us understand her character. But it does not evolve into anything other than the possibility that she is just misunderstood. And then she is forgotten by the end of the film like she never existed in the story at all.

The cinematography of the roaring ocean is excellent. As an ocean lover, I wanted to join the girls when they swimming with the dolphins. Filmmakers found the best locations to film in.

Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum delivers a substantial message to audiences - most notably teens. She delves into her inner imagination, that’s for sure. The mermaid world is a given creative exploration. My favorite was the shell phone! That’s the best part of Aquamarine. It’s a fun fantasy that takes you on an adventure.

Make life what you want. You’re never going to make headway if you hold yourself back because of little fears. Don’t be afraid of life. Be friends with it. Another lesson conveyed in the film is that you cannot rely on others to fix your problems. You have to stand up for yourself to get what you what.

I’m so glad that I watched Aquamarine again. This is an important film for all young adult audiences.