Greetings from the Shore

It's refreshing to see a small, independent movie with such a big heart, lovable characters (played by an able, attractive cast) and stunning cinematography.

Who knew the Jersey Shore had such beautiful locations? I'm so accustomed to seeing films set in The Garden State that look like a trash dump, not like some tropical paradise. The light is golden and feels almost nostalgic, like a film from another decade.

But life isn't exactly paradise for the down-on-her luck main character (Kim Shaw), who's trying to fulfill her dream of going to Columbia by working all summer and praying she gets financial aid. Her dad's dead, her car breaks down, the job and housing she had lined up both vanish, and she's forced to either admit defeat or turn that frown upside down and make the best of things. Shaw is cute as a button and you want her to succeed. She finds work as a ESL teacher for the kitchen staff at a local restaurant/boat club and gets involved with a group of bad boy drifters who she's supposed to be teaching. Later than sooner, she learns what they're up to and falls for the cutest bad boy of the bunch (David Fumero).

Coming-of-age, end-of-innocence, romantic-comedy, thriller...whatever you want to call it, it works. Kudos to the filmmakers for making such a feel-good film...it would be great to see more indie films that show us the sunny side of life more often than focusing on just the dark clouds of human experience.

This film reminded me of movies from my high school years, sort of like a John Hughes flick. I definitely enjoyed it and will watch it again if I get the chance, but I know that if I'd seen this film when I was younger, it would have been in heavy rotation on my schedule of flicks to watch on weekends with my girlfriends and a huge bowl of popcorn, or maybe salt-water taffy. Heck, I'd watch it again just for the eye candy of David Fumero! But seriously it's about time some movie showed New Jersey in a favorable light. My favorite place there is the Jersey Shore (whose isn't?), and that's what this movie is all about. It shows off the best things that come with spending a summer there -- the boardwalks and games, beautiful beaches, and all the quirky characters that make up this unique slice of Americana. The movie is fun and funny, and it's romantic and sweet. I gave it a 9 out of 10.

Not knowing what to expect going in, I was pleasantly caught off guard by the simple elegance of "Greetings from the Shore," a terrifically earnest coming-of-age story of love and redemption set at the Jersey shore. Call it a love letter to the locale's sandy beauty, there's no denying the film's unabashed enthusiasm for the power of its setting.

"Greetings..." tells the story of Jenny Chambers (Kim Shaw), a Columbia University-bound girl reeling from the recent death of her father. Returning to the Jersey shore to work at a pizza parlor for the summer, Jenny's plans suddenly fall apart and she finds herself in rough waters teaching English to a group of nomadic, sea-legged (and less than amenable) waiters at a local boat club. Much more welcoming is "Catch" (Paul Sorvino), a retired sea veteran and mechanic who once fixed the Chambers family car and is now content to spend his days alone on his own landlocked vessel. When Jenny and one of the waiters, Benicio (David Fumero), develop a mutual attraction, Catch's fatherly protectiveness puts her in between a place of love's impetuousness and cautious practicality. The effect of this is that all are forced to reevaluate the plans, regrets and possibilities their lives have served up.

The cast is uniformly strong, the dialogue natural and assured, with the lush direction maximizing the scenery. Newcomer Kim Shaw brings with her a tough vulnerability and charm that will certainly make her an actress to watch, while Fumero offers many shades of complexity to a role that doesn't just require hot and brooding. Ever the consummate character actor, Sorvino exudes tenderness and heartbreak as a man torn up by his past. Other stand-outs include the scenery-chewing sinister club owner, "The Commodore" (Jay O. Sanders), and Benicio's pensive colleague, Lars (Lars Arentz-Hansen).

All in all, this is a well-made movie that satisfies the heart. Worth a couple of viewing hours for sure.

This is a sweet feel-good movie about a young woman who ends up on the Jersey shore for a summer job after her father passes away so she can save up money to go to college. Kim Shaw does a great job at playing this innocent and fun-loving character and as a huge Paul Sorvino fan, of course his performance was great too! The Russian sailors were both comedic and mysterious and really all of the acting in this indie film was great. It's not a sappy romance story but the story line isn't really anything beyond what you could normally expect but if you like a sweet movie that will leave you with a smile on your face I definitely recommend getting this one! Note that there are F-bombs being thrown around every five minutes by certain characters but it's still a good movie nonetheless.

In the tradition of Dirty Dancing and Mystique Pizza, Greetings From The Shore is an entertaining, well made, and well acted little film. If you thought Sleepless in Seattle or An Affair to Remember were just corny love stories, you might still enjoy this story because of the added drama of the high stakes poker game, and the baffling contingent of foreign heavies that populate the seaside landscape. Jen is a truly sympathetic character, just as Flip is the stereotypical guy that you love to hate. Whether you watch it for the intrigue or the romance (both of which are worthwhile endeavors), as you watch it, keep in mind that it is based on true life experiences of the screenwriter.