IslandGuru Who payed the critics

Supelice Dreadfully Boring

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

dr_of_lube Contrary to British bawdy-speak, the Shag is a dance that is a smooth cross between the Jitterbug and the 50's Bop. One can Shag only to the beat of "old school" rhythm and blues music, referred to in the Carolinas, Virginia and parts of Georgia as "Beach Music". It is not an easy dance to master, although like riding a bicycle once you learn how, you never forget.I was a regular visitor to Myrtle Beach during the 70s and 80s when Beach Music had progressed from a hometown tradition to a potential new fad with marketing potential. "New" Beach Music bands and songs were becoming popular (with acts like The Band of Oz and the Fantastic Shakers making popular tunes like "Ocean Boulevard", "Myrtle Beach Days" and "Shaggin"; even the old-school Embers wrote a new song, "I Love Beach Music"). I spent much of the summer at Myrtle Beach when this movie, Shag, was being filmed at Atlantic Beach. I even saw Phoebe Cates and Bridgette Fonda at the After Deck (nightclub) one night.I recently bought the DVD of Shag and found it was better than I remembered. It is full of fun and silliness and in general the story is pretty true to life if not a little more sedate than my years at the beach. The movie does a good job of demonstrating the appeal of the beach. It was always about getting out of our small southern home-towns and meeting some new faces, having some fun and hopefully finding true love, at least for a few days. The music and the dancing became integral to the process. Today that music is still loved my many southerners who came of age at the Carolina beach towns from the 50s through the 80s.I recently toured Myrtle Beach for the first time in about 12 years. It has changed more in that time than it ever did from my first memories of it from the late 50s until I was last there in the early 90s. Shag gives an accurate snapshot of what it was like there in its glory days in the 60s. The music, the dancing, the fun and friendships new and old were what it was all about. Those were days that brought songs like Billy Stewart's definitive version of "Summertime", or the Catalina's "Summertime's Calling Me" into reality. While those tunes aren't on the soundtrack of the movie, "Shag" does of good job of preserving the essence of that lifestyle.IF you're not from the southeastern US, you can get a fairly accurate picture of what growing up was like for many Baby Boomers from that area. If you are a southerner and love Beach Music, the movie is about the best we have available at picturing that happy time.

Lee Eisenberg 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.

jodirose22 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.

wannasurf2 My motivation for watching this movie was that it was actually filmed in Myrtle Beach. Growing up going to Myrtle in the summer, and of course going for the virtual spring break that goes on there all summer long for people of college age made me curious enough to view this film. After viewing it, I realized that it is true...there are a select few buildings that haven't changed since the 60's, and this movie used them well as props (in 89').Unfortunately now that Myrtle Beach is the country's largest and fastest growing tourist area, most of the nostalgic buildings are going, but as of this summer, there are still a few drive ins and shops in original 50's condition, as well as the original Theme Park with the wooden roller coaster still standing (and in use). As a matter of fact, I have stayed twice at the Sea Palms motel in the "shag room" as it is called. The reason they call it this is because the movie actually used it to film a couple scenes (not for the reason you are thinking). Yes, it still looks like the 50's in this motel too...probably because that was the last time it was remodeled (unfortunately I am not joking). Either way, if you like Shag, and actually want to see all of the places on the strip where the scenes were shot, go to Myrtle on your next vacation (since you will likely be going there anyway). Note, you still won't get any sleep if you stay at a motel on Ocean Blvd (the strip)...that much hasn't changed since the 50's!