Movie · 2017 · Comedy, Action, Crime · 1h 56m · R · English
Curator score: 0.4/10 (572.9K ratings)
Don't worry, summer is coming.
Overview
Devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon butts heads with a brash new recruit. Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.
Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach Walton, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jon Bass, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Hannibal Buress, Rob Huebel, Amin Joseph, Jack Kesy, Oscar Nuñez, David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Clem Cheung, Belinda, Charlotte McKinney, Izabel Goulart, Arian Foster
Where to watch
Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A broad, glossy action-comedy with a few easy laughs and appealing star chemistry, but the jokes are thin, the plot is routine, and the runtime feels longer than the material deserves. It works best as lightweight background entertainment rather than a genuinely sharp or memorable comedy.
Best for
Viewers who like dumb-fun studio comedies with beach-party energy
Fans of Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron banter
People in the mood for a flashy, low-stakes action movie
Audiences who enjoy attractive cast, slow-motion spectacle, and self-aware silliness
Skip if
You want consistently funny comedy writing
You prefer action films with real tension or originality
You are sensitive to juvenile humor and repetitive gags
You want a tighter runtime and cleaner pacing
Overview
Baywatch is built like a summer product: bright colors, sculpted bodies, easy jokes, and a crime plot that exists mostly to keep the cast moving. The movie has a few genuine sparks, especially when it leans into the odd-couple energy between its leads, but it rarely turns that chemistry into sustained comedy.
Worth noting
The humor is broad and often repetitive, with a lot of the runtime spent stretching one-note bits past their expiration date. The action is serviceable and the beach setting gives it a polished, sun-dazed look, but the film never quite finds a rhythm that makes the whole package feel sharper than a TV reboot joke.
Bottom line
If you like star-driven nonsense and can enjoy a movie that knows it is ridiculous, there is some disposable fun here. For most viewers, though, it lands closer to a mildly amusing hangout than a must-see comedy-action hybrid.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Framesofnick (1★) · 1978 likes
Sometimes I used to eat sand as a kid for the crunchy salty taste
Bethany (2★) · 995 likes
if alexandra daddario punched me in the face i would say thank you
also the rock calling zac “high school musical” threw me into another dimension
Jack (2.5★) · 765 likes
there's an issue when Silence feels shorter than your 116 minute comedy.
Frank (0.5★) · 544 likes
It's not a good idea to make a comedy that stars ZERO comedians.
Painfully bad.
(NOTE: This movie killed Nu-Frank)
shay (1.5★) · 396 likes
the rock calling zac efron by saying "hey high school musical" had my 2006 troy bolton what about us what about everything we've been through loving self screaming internally
2012 · Action, Comedy, Crime · 1h 49m · R · Curator 5.8/10 (1.8M ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, TNT, TBS, tru TV
A sharper, faster buddy-comedy with better jokes and similar undercover-cop energy.
2014 · Crime, Comedy, Action · 1h 52m · R · Curator 4.5/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, TNT, TBS, tru TV
Keeps the same playful, self-aware tone while pushing the comedy and action harder.