Watch Malibu Rescue

In the family-friendly action-comedy film "Malibu Rescue" (2019), 13-year-old junior lifeguard Tyler (Ricardo Hurtado) dreams of becoming a full-fledged member of his team and making a difference patrolling the beach. When he fails to rescue a man during a training exercise and his team goes behind his back to exclude him from their upcoming senior lifeguard tryouts, Tyler's dad (Jason Rogel) finds a loophole in the rules and manages to get Tyler on the team of misfits tasked with winning the annual Malibu Junior Rescue Cup against their rivals from Orange County.

The Malibu squad includes the confident but superficial captain Dylan (Jackie R. Jacobson), the nerdy Minecraft enthusiast Eric (Alkoya Brunson), the likable stoner Lulu (Bryana Salaz), and the shy science prodigy Gina (Abby Donnelly), while the Orange County team is led by the competitive and wealthy Tyler X (JT Neal). Tyler's new coach and mentor, former surfing champion and beach bum Dave (Ian Ziering), teaches him how to be a better teammate and use his brains instead of his brawn to overcome obstacles like riptides, sharks, and jellyfish. Meanwhile, Tyler also gets to know Dylan's little sister Gina and discovers that they share some interests and goals beyond saving lives.

The movie, directed by Savage Steve Holland and written by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, combines elements of sports movies, teen romances, and fish-out-of-water comedies. There are scenes of physical training, strategy sessions, and teamwork-building exercises, as well as moments of comedy, drama, and romance. The characters are mostly stereotypes, but they are likable and relatable enough to root for or against. The acting is competent, with Hurtado carrying most of the emotional weight and Jacobson providing most of the humor. Ziering and Rogel also have some amusing moments as the adults who care about Tyler's future.

The cinematography by David Stump captures the beauty of the sun-kissed California coast and the excitement of the water sports. The editing by Marshall Harvey keeps the pace brisk and the tone light, with some inventive transitions and split-screen sequences. The music by Zack Ryan and Vincent Steele is catchy and upbeat, with some surfing-themed rock songs and electronic beats. The production design by Ryan Berg and the costumes by Olivia Miles are colorful and beachy, with lots of neon hues and board shorts.

"Malibu Rescue" is a movie that kids and families can watch together and enjoy as a harmless and fun diversion. It doesn't break any new ground or offer much depth or substance, but it fulfills its formulaic formula and delivers some positive messages about teamwork, perseverance, and friendship. It's also free of offensive language or violence, although there are some mild jokes and innuendos that might go over younger viewers' heads. Overall, "Malibu Rescue" is a decent addition to the genre of summer camp movies and will probably make some viewers want to join a lifeguard squad or learn how to surf.

Malibu Rescue is a 2019 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 9 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1.