Ski Party

"Todd Armstrong" (Frankie Avalon) and "Craig Gamble" (Dwayne Hickman) are two college roommates who aren't having any luck with two girls they like named "Linda Hughes" (Deborah Walley) and "Barbara Norris" (Yvonne Craig) respectively. So, they decide to go on a ski trip in order to stay close to them. Unfortunately, they continue to strike out and--unable to figure out why--they decide to shift gears and put a new plan into motion. Now, rather than reveal any more of the story and risk ruining the film for those who haven't seen it, I will just say that this film has a direct relationship to the beach movies of this particular time. That said, people who weren't alive during this time or haven't seen any of the beach movies produced in the early 60's, probably won't appreciate the music or the comedy. But make no mistake, the music was pretty good, and I thought some of the scenes were quite funny as well. Likewise, I thought both Bobbi Shaw (as "Nita Elksberg") and the aforementioned Yvonne Craig certainly helped in the scenery department. In any case, I enjoyed this film and rate it as slightly above average.

Just like the rest with snow substituted for surf, Avalon and Hickman don drag to infiltrate a female only ski lodge in a misguided attempt to better understand just what women really want. Walley and Craig are their frigid girlfriends who decide it's better to let boys be boys and meet in the middle than hold a grudge.

Kincaid is a pushy Casanova smitten with Hickman's alter ego, Bobbi Shaw and her cheekbones a seductive Swedish siren, and Lesley Gore makes a quick cameo riding the bus long enough to belt out a signature tune. If you persist, screaming' James Brown & the Famous Flames awaits to warm things up with an impromptu badly lip-synced 'I Got You'.

Endless sight gags punctuated by musical numbers and cheesy dialogue (e.g. Avalon manages to liken a feathery pillow fight with the allies WWII triumph) ends up where it started back at the beach for signature butt-wiggling shenanigans.

Ultra-light and inoffensive, Avalon and Hickman make a likeable duo of girl-obsessed youths but despite the promise of a reunion in the closing credits, 'Cruise Party' seems to never have eventuated, which is a shame (although they would team up again in 'Dr Goldfoot & the Bikini Machine'). An easy-going escapade worth a look for even the casual beach party fan.

Like so many "beach movies," and variations of them, I first saw this one when it was pretty CLOSE to new. It's easy to jump on it for being a "Some Like It Hot" rip-off, forgetting that the men-disguised-as-women joke has probably been going on FOREVER. Even though it's considered the masterpiece, SLIH didn't INVENT the idea. (And, this movie even acknowledges that one in one little line.) This one has some genuinely clever moments (though I wouldn't care that much if it DIDN'T). There's the carefully set-up joke that ends in front of the gas station with the line " 17 cents worth of regular" (you have to see the whole thing for yourself). And the moment where Dwayne Hickman "breaks the fourth wall" in a pretty original way - "Look, nothing's going to happen for a few minutes. Why don't you go get a coke or something?" And of course the cameos (which you usually expect from these movies) - Annette Funicello herself as Frankie and Dwayne's professor (!), and Dick Miller.

The only difference between the usual AIP beach movie fluff and this film is that it's colder and they've put on dry clothes. Other than that, it's Frankie, Debbie, Dwayne, and a pre-"Batgirl" Yvonne Craig up to the usual shenanigans. The only plus here is rare film appearances by James Brown, doing the classic "I Feel Good," and Leslie Gore, with what proved to be one of her last big hits, the Marvin Hamlisch composition "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows." It's for this last reason alone, I think, that this movie used to be frequently aired on AMC's "American Pop" series, often in letterbox to show off the Squaw Valley scenery. Incidentally, at the end of the movie, there's an invitation to watch for the whole crew again in "Cruise Party." As far as I can determine, that film was never made, probably because they finally figured out that, in the wake of the so-called "British Invasion," the beach blanket bimbo genre had finally run its course.

This is a fun a movie and worth at least to watch one time. this takes a person back when sex wasn't a dirty word for 15 year olds. it treats the young watcher with respect. guess what the guys chase the girls and the girls chase back. in today's moral climate even that seems a no no. if anything it's too mature for the one who wants hanna montanna making noises with her armpits. haver fun and relax and learn to grow up a little. and yes it's OK for boys to like girls and vice versa despite what your pastor has been telling you. there's no catch it's just fun. you won't fall out of your chair laughing. it's not widely funny it's just fun. and that's enough for me.