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12 out of 12 people found the following review useful: The discovery and adventure of coming of age., 22 July 2001 Author: budmassey (cyberbarrister@gmail.com) from Indianapolis, IN
Starring Phoebe Cates (Mrs. Kevin Kline, who knew?), as in "what ever happened to", and Bridget Fonda just as her career took off, Shag is sweet, warm, funny, nostalgic, and above all, wild. I saw a trailer for this on another DVD and added to my list of "must haves." It was well worth it.Cates is Carson McBride, about to marry stuffy Harley Ralston (Tyron Power, Jr.). Her best friends, played by Bridget Fonda, Annabeth Gish and Page Hannah (yup, Darryl's sister) surprise her with a weekend in Myrtle Beach as a last fling. Cates is funny enough, but Bridget simply overpowers the other female leads with her boundless charisma.They meet a couple of local boys who change their lives and have one heck of good time in the process. Speaking of "what ever happened to," Scott Coffey's Chip was the most enjoyable male character in the film, cute as a bug and delightfully innocent and whatever happened to him?Too many films of this genre are souless, heartless and mindless. This one is the rare exception, and gives you a chance to remember the discovery and adventure of coming of age.
11 out of 12 people found the following review useful: one "chick flick" for the history books, 27 March 2003 Author: Douglas (dogge84) from Sweden
I saw at the bottom of the page, that "if you like this title we also recommend American Graffiti". So true, so true. Of course, it can't be compared to "graffiti", but it's a movie with many laughs and adorable characters.I saw this movie last night, maybe for the tenth time or something. I had a good time as always. Then of course, I am a very nostalgic person and if your favorite movie is "Matrix" or "Minority report" you might not like it.The title is a little confusing since there aren't that many dance scenes, but I honestly don't care. I'm just looking for a temporary time machine with the course aimed for 1963. Besides, the dancing moments of the movie are quite enough.Shag takes off with four friends going away to Myrtle beach for a weekend of total fun. Luanne is the proper one who is almost always upset or embarrassed, and she kind of takes the "leader" role, since they are all going in her car and staying at her fathers (the senator's) house, (where you can't sit on the furniture's, use the phone or drink the senator's bourbon). Pudge is a nice girl who has held everything back all her life, but no more! She is also the one who is responsible for the most "shagging" in the movie. Melaina (Fonda) is the wild one who dreams of a career in Hollywood since she is "neither marrying Harvey nor going to college". Carson (Cates) is the sweet and unexperienced girl who IS marrying Harvey. Also, when the movie begins, she thinks that they are going someplace else. But the girls have other plans and they are determined to take Carson for a weekend that she will never forget. One last fling together. A plot like this CAN'T go wrong.Anyway, by the end of the movie they are all different people, and they have learned that things are not always as they seem. You have control of your own destiny. Carson meets Buzz (the lines that these two people have are unbeatable), Luanne gives the audience a real "necking-surprise" and Melaina finally meets Jimmy Valentine who she considers to be her key to a life of luxury in Hollywood. ( I laugh every time Jimmy does his "move"). The story which I like the best though, is the love that develops between Pudge and the "navy" boy Chip. They are just so good people and the conversations between them so sweet and innocent. You really feel happy for them. It would be a crime not making them a couple. This movie has a great ending. The kind which makes you wonder what happens to the people in the film. You actually care about them.The acting is terrific. Bridget Fonda gets a lot of room and maybe it's because her character is the most interesting one. This was before she became a star. I think Phoebe Cates is one of the most underrated actresses ever. Just think about it, how she effects an audience. When she opens her mouth you can't look away. It's like she is born to make these parts. She isn't acting. She IS her characters. " Yes, I am wild. I guess I've been wild all of my life, without even knowing it". One of many great lines in this movie.The one thing that always impresses me in these movies is the setting. They actually make it look like in 1963. The cars, the clothes, the colors, the buildings. It's incredible. If you like these kind of movies, and haven't seen this one, you should be ashamed of yourself! Grade: 8/10
7 out of 9 people found the following review useful: "Shag" is the bee's knees!, 10 August 2005 Author: William (onnanob66@gmail.com) from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Charming, colorful, and spirited are a few words I can apply to "Shag - The Movie." In case you're wondering, the title is referring to a style of dancing that was popular in southern U.S. beach communities during the late 1950's, and through the 1960's. "Shag" is the kind of movie in which the viewer may wish they were there; partaking in everything that's happening between old and new friends. Friendship is the basis of the movie, which is set in the summer of 1963. The main characters are four girls who have one final fling before they go their separate ways into adulthood. Carson (Phoebe Cates) is engaged to be married to an up-and-coming tobacco tycoon named Harley (Tyrone Power Jr.) Luanne (Page Hannah) is the daughter of a wealthy senator. Caroline (Annabeth Gish) goes by "Pudge" as a nickname. She has a reputation for being overweight even though she's turning into a slimmer young woman. Melaina (Bridget Fonda) is rebellious, and has a sexually liberated attitude. Four girls who are often as different as can be, but they're still the best of friends. Their friendship is sometimes tested when they reach the destination of their final fling: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Throughout the movie common teen subjects arise: Alcohol, sex, careers, future plans, dating, and marriage are some of the subjects discussed. Naturally guys come into play, and the characters of Buzz (Robert Rusler) and Chip (Scott Coffey) are introduced. Buzz is free-spirited and lively. Chip is a young man on his way to becoming a Marine. Along the way Carson and Buzz develop an attraction for each other, which threatens Carson's engagement to Harley. The relationship between Carson and Buzz grows, and soon Carson finds it difficult to stop herself from being drawn to him. Eventually Harley shows up in Myrtle Beach, which creates some surprises for everyone. Luanne and Harley have a respect for each other, but there also seems to be a hint of a mutual interest between them. Pudge and Chip hit it off, and plan to enter the shag dance contest. Their growing relationship is interesting, because it's not immediately known if Chip likes Pudge as much as she likes him. The character of Melaina goes through a few phases, but her main goal is to nab a career in Hollywood. Cliff-hangers seem to be common throughout "Shag - The Movie": Will Carson break off her engagement to Harley, and find love with Buzz? Would a break-up lead Harley to Luanne? Will Pudge and Chip find they love each other, and will they still be in the shag contest? Will Melaina be discovered, and be on her way to Hollywood? Will the parents find out the girls lied by going to Myrtle Beach instead of going on an educational tour? Obviously these are answered by the film's end, but along the way there are fun times to be had! One big party, meeting a teen idol, a beauty contest, and the shag contest provide lots of fun. Tender moments, competition, and conflicts keep the movie well grounded. The summer of 1963 is re-created with amusement park rides, jukeboxes, carhops, vintage cars, and music. The soundtrack is made of new versions of songs that had been hits in that era, and also original vintage oldies. The soundtrack also features new, original recordings, but they don't always have an authentic sound (this is the only negative comment I have on the entire movie.) Sets, props and locations fit well with the 1963 setting. The movie is well filmed, well scripted, and contains a lot of memorable dialogue. The humor is satisfying more on a delightful scale, and there doesn't seem to be an attempt at too many big laughs. In this case a more subtle style of humor works very well, and adds to the charm of the movie. The entire cast does a wonderful job! Each performance is well-crafted, and the cast is full of talent. The interactions of the actors and the chemistry between each character keep the movie fun and high-spirited. "Shag - The Movie" is a crowd pleaser for all audiences, and worth multiple viewings. Put on your shagging shoes, and enjoy a movie that really is the bee's knees!
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Fun Movie, 7 August 2005 Author: fineincarolina from United States
Four friends head to Myrtle Beach, SC after high school graduation. There they meet boys, have a party (hellacious for 1963), and enter a fabulous dancing contest. This movie is fun, keeps your attention, and is wonderful to be able to see the period (early 1960s) cars, hotels, dancing pavilion, etc. in Myrtle Beach. I would recommend this movie for a nice evening to just feel good. The only bit of concern is that the original VHS that was released in 1989 and the DVD versions are fine-- but somewhere in between there was a version released on VHS for about $10 that was a disappointment-- it had deleted/changes music. Beware of this version. The new DVD version is intact. The original music is nice and adds to the era in which this movie takes place. Young and old alike will like this movie.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Fantastic, 27 August 2003 Author: karl-118 from Crawley/Gatwick, England
First saw this film around 8yrs ago on Channel 4 (UK) Excellent, Fantastic - Phoebie cates - Sexy - luv the sixties look the cars and the shag music (of course shag means something else here in Engalnd) So I wondered what the film was about when I heard it was coming on t.v. I want them to bring a follow up maybe with the same stars - See how they got on life. I'm now 34 and must have seen this film around 50 times on the same video but am now looking for a Region 2 Dvd - but can only find Reg1 USA/Canada. Have tried Ebay but no luck, but I will keep on watching the film until my tape gives up. If you have never seen this film - You have missed an excellent film - better than Dirty Dancing - Wonderful and the cast Excellent. Karl
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Where the boys are, 26 November 2005 Author: blanche-2 from United States
I watched this movie only to get a look at Tyrone Power, Jr., and ended up enjoying it immensely. Set in 1963 before the assassination of JFK, four young southern women go to Myrtle Beach for a last hurrah before college and, in one way or another, their lives change. Phoebe Cates is a virginal brunette engaged to uptight Tyrone Power, Jr., but winds up falling for Robert Rusler; Bridget Fonda is a comely blond looking to win Miss Sun Queen; Annabeth Gish is everybody's pal who wants to be somebody's girlfriend; and Page Hannah is the plain daughter of a senator hoping to keep her daddy's liquor cabinet locked and his house clean so nobody knows she and her friends were there. The movie culminates with a shagging (some kind of dancing) contest.I suspect that some of us old-timers might like this movie even more than the teens and twenty-somethings - it sure brings you back to a time when kids talked about getting to second base, going all the way, and asked questions like, Have you ever put your tongue in anyone's ear? Shag captures the atmosphere of fun and hilarity one only gets at an early age and away from one's parents. The sound track is fabulous. Highly recommended if you want to feel young again.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: This is what fun is all about!, 2 June 2006 Author: Lee Eisenberg (eisenberg.lee@gmail.com) from Portland, Oregon, USA
Another nostalgia piece? Yes, and a fun one at that. "Shag" does not have anything to do with Austin Powers, but rather portrays four teenage girls spending a weekend partying in 1963 Myrtle Beach, before one of them gets married (the title refers to a type of dance...and let me tell you, that dance looks fun!). The movie is partly a look back at that era - with Bermuda shorts, Jackie Kennedy hairdos and spiffy cars - but mostly a big excuse to have fun. As an example of how much fun they're having, they're staying in a senator's house that's supposed to be unoccupied. Anyway, it's a really cool movie. Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda, Annabeth Gish and Page Hannah all play some great characters here. If only I could have participated in that weekend.
4 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Lots of romancing and a little dancing, 4 June 2006 Author: wayfarers43 from United States
Compared to "Dirty Dancing" or "Footloose," movies of the genre, the content of this film doesn't quite gibe with the title. The Shag was a complicated, embellished and sexually- charged dance between a couple; the film could have expanded on that. If dancing was supposed to be the thread throughout the film, this movie fell a little short. However, the fascinating final dance sequence, about a full five minutes, gave 'the Shag' the focus it deserves. The plot revolves around four recent high school graduates taking a detour from the parentally-mandated, boring summer weekend at Ft. Sumter, NC; instead, they head off for fun and thrills in Myrtle Beach, SC. The trip is one last fling together for the four girls, with one thing on their minds, landing the man of the marrying kind (this is 1963 after all). Actress Phoebe Cates (Carson), Bridget Fonda (Melaina), and Robert Rusler (Buzz) all do a fine job of acting in the film (Fonda a knockout, Cates a hottie, and Rusler, shirtless, looking buff in his jean cutoffs); however, more impressive were scenes by actor Scott Coffey with Annabeth Gish (Caroline), and Coffey with Donald Craig (Senator Clatterback).If the film was supposed to be a 'breakout' film for Tyrone Power, Jr., his part was so minimal to the film's progress, and his pairing with the Senator's daughter, Luanne, (horribly overplayed by Page Hannah and overdone by the costuming department) is so improbable that one wonders why he bothered to sign on. He might have been more interesting in the part of "Buzz." All in all, an enjoyable film, a great nostalgia trip of beaches, dancin,' cruisin' and cars. Music, crucial to this type of film, included rhythm-and-blues classics such as Lloyd Price's "Stagger Lee" and Billy Ward and His Dominoes' "Sixty Minute Man" (recorded in 1952 and one of the first records to jumpstart rock'n'roll). The final dance sequence was highly enjoyable and endearing, with Coffey and Gish portraying innocent tenderness and joy. One wonders why more weren't included in the film. (Note: A legal dispute ensued regarding the film's soundtrack. This writer review the MGM/UA home entertainment 1998 VHS version. The DVD version, released in 2001, includes the original soundtrack of the theatrical release).
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: great movies deserve awards, 23 August 2007 Author: chsDanielleR from United States
Why do all the incredible movie have no awards whatsoever? I swear the crappy movie Capote got more Oscars and awards than Star Wars (exaggeration). This movie contains all of the basic necessities that made Godfather, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones great. It gave an experience. It gave a feeling so emotional that an audience could sit back, eat popcorn, and look at their watch 2 minutes later and realize two hours had already gone by. All of the characters had versatile, inspiring personalities.Pudge was innocent but outgoing. Carson, strict on her parents' and societies' rules but nonetheless up for a risk when it came by her way. Luanne, strict at rules but more apt for adventure than Carson. Finally, Melaina, an obvious go flirting, drinking, sucking up to people, but to the boys' dismay: no bedding. This 80s movie had no computer graphics, no detailed special effects, .It had only the necessities: acting, experience, camera angles, and emotional, rather than physical love.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Where the movie was filmed....., 5 May 2006 Author: jodirose22 from United States
This is such a great movie! I bought the MGM copy not knowing that it was different from the HBO copy. I remembered that my local video store had the HBO copy so I switched them! Me and my sisters love this movie. We try to sit down and watch it together at least once a year. We have been watching it for years. We first recorded it off of HBO. We had two movies on that tape, Dirty Dancing was first and then Shag. I was known as the "girls tape". I heard that the Pavilion was closing this summer and I'm trying to get some information on where this film was shot. If anyone could let me know... My sister just moved near Myrtle Beach and we are looking to go on a road trip to see some of the places where the film was made.
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