User Reviews

A slow moving film about 4 friends: "Carson" (Phoebe Cates), "Pudge" (Annabeth Gish), "Melaina" (Bridget Fonda) and "Luanne" (Page Hannah) who decide to take one last fling in Myrtle Beach, SC before going their separate ways. Although the music was standard for the year it was supposed to represent (1963), for some reason this film failed to capture the right feel for this particular time period. Perhaps it was the crude and vulgar manner in which the young adults carried themselves or the bikinis that some of the ladies wore. But something didn't seem right to me. I could maybe visualize some of this wild and ill-mannered behavior on the West Coast--but not in Dixie during this particular period. Also, the Southern accents were a bit too thick and heavy which made everything seem a bit phony. Even so, Annabeth Gish and Scott Coffey (as "Chip") turned in good performances as did Bridget Fonda to a lesser degree. But other than that the acting was mediocre. All things considered then, it was a decent film worth watching if you're a fan of the early-60's or if you enjoy beach movies.

Standard coming of age flic. As opposed to, say, "Dazed And Confused" the soundtrack is the star here while the characters and story tend to Southernoid cliche, (Annabeth Gish honorably excepted). Give it a generous C plus 'cause it's got some good acting, especially from Gish, Bridget Fonda and Phoebe Cates.

Although it has taken myself thirty two (32) long years to catch this film on the TCM (Turner Classic Movies) channel I really enjoyed the simplicity of the story line and the brilliant films' color that the film producers, Palace Pictures utilized. The soundtrack was a classic and rather than the typical storyline that evolves around young men, this particular jocular Romedy focuses on four (4) young ladies who take an adventurous trip by a convertible car to sunny Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to have some fun before one of the young ladies named Carson (Phoebe Cates) gets married although she has recently felt some second thoughts about her upcoming nuptials.

The other three (3) ladies fool Carson about where they are really going until their convertible drive is well underway and Carson realizes that her friends are taking her on a quasi bachelorette party. Each lady has her heart swept away by a man that they initially object to, but the young men are persistent and each of the four (4) ladies finds their destiny in a relationship they were not expecting.

The acting is exceptional and before you know it you will think that you are at. Myrtle Beach enjoying the sun, fun and music alongside this very wide range of youthful vigor dancing to the Shag.

If any of the original producers read my review I hope you are listening and are open to the idea of a sequel possibly set in the year of 2000 which would be thirty seven (37) years forward from when the original film was set in 1963. We could see if the eight characters are still together with their significant partner(s) and/or they have divorced and moved on with their lives and what does their future in the new millennium of 2000.look like?

I give Shag a highly effective 7 out of 10 IMDB rating for this Romedy film.

Phoebe Cates is about to get married to her boy friend, so she, Annabeth Gish and Bridget Fonda cut loose on a trip to Myrtle Beach in the summer of '63.

Everyone is beautiful in Zelda Barron's movie, everyone is well dressed and dances to Pre-British-Invasion Rock & Roll. The houses are well-maintained and decorated, the Detroit Iron is waxed. It's America at its zenith Looking back, we know that the world was cracking, but that was obvious. Now was a joyous moment, and darn it, it looks good to have been young, white and well to do in this flick.

RELEASED IN 1989 and directed by Zelda Barron, "Shag" is a teen drama about four girls freshly graduated from high school taking a vacation weekend at Myrtle Beach in 1963. There's the senator's daughter, Luanne (Page Hannah); the engaged or encaged Carson (Phoebe Cates); the wannabe Hollywood starlet Malaina (Bridget Fonda); and the thinks-she's-still-fat-but-she's-not Pudge (Annabeth Gish).

The movie plays like a melding of "American Graffiti" (1973), "Dirty Dancing" (1987) and "Mystic Pizza" (1988). It's far superior to the overrated "American Graffiti" and lacks the idiot subplot of "Dirty Dancing" (see my reviews of both for details).

The script thrusts the four girls into the weekend festivities at Myrtle Beach as quickly as possible wherein the story splits into several vignettes that intertwine. The weekend highpoints include: A beauty contest on the beach, a wild house party at the senator's vacation home (unbeknownst to him, of course) and a shag dance contest. Thematically, the flick tries to advocate the wise middle ground between life-stifling legalism and foolish libertinism.

Some have called this a "chick flick" and I can see why since the focus is on the four girls, but there's just as much here for dudes to relate. For instance, there are several voluptuous cuties on display, both in the main cast and in the periphery. Kudos to the director for his excellent eye for women. Bridget Fonda is particularly showcased in all her glory with her white bikini scenes being a highlight. She was 23 when the film was shot in 1987. There are also several prominent guys in the cast: Harley (Tyrone Power Jr.), Buzz (Robert Rusler), Chip (Scott Coffey), Jimmy Valentine (Jeff Yagher) and, to a lesser extent, the manager (Paul Lieber) and Big Bob (Jay Baker).

Lastly, the movie features a great period soundtrack with excellent cuts like "Stay" by The Voltage Brothers, performed (lip-synced) at The Pavilion.

THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 38 minutes and was shot entirely in South Carolina (Georgetown, Myrtle Beach & Florence). WRITERS: Lanier Laney, Terry Sweeney & Robin Swicord.

GRADE: B+

"Shag" is a great coming of age film. The characters are well written and the actors perform them well. The cast is one of the best ensembles I have ever seen in a move of this kind. I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of this kind of movie. Two thumbs up!

Starring Phoebe Cates (Mrs. Kevin Kline, who knew?), as in "what ever happened to", and Bridget Fonda just as her career took off, Shag is sweet, warm, funny, nostalgic, and above all, wild. I saw a trailer for this on another DVD and added to my list of "must haves." It was well worth it.

Cates is Carson McBride, about to marry stuffy Harley Ralston (Tyron Power, Jr.). Her best friends, played by Bridget Fonda, Annabeth Gish and Page Hannah (yup, Darryl's sister) surprise her with a weekend in Myrtle Beach as a last fling. Cates is funny enough, but Bridget simply overpowers the other female leads with her boundless charisma.

They meet a couple of local boys who change their lives and have one heck of good time in the process. Speaking of "what ever happened to," Scott Coffey's Chip was the most enjoyable male character in the film, cute as a bug and delightfully innocent and whatever happened to him?

Too many films of this genre are souless, heartless and mindless. This one is the rare exception, and gives you a chance to remember the discovery and adventure of coming of age.

It's the summer of 63 South Carolina. Carson (Phoebe Cates) is soon to be married. Her friends wild girl Melaina (Bridget Fonda), formerly chubby Pudge (Annabeth Gish) and senator's daughter Luanne (Page Hannah) trick her into going to Myrtle Beach for one last fun time. Carson is unsure about marrying rich Harley and spends time with townie Buzz Ravenel. Awkward Chip Guillyard takes a liking to Pudge. Melaina is desperate to go to Hollywood. It's a wild weekend culminating in a Shag Contest or dance contest.

This has three 80s sweethearts in Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda and Annabeth Gish. I love the girls and Scott Coffey. Robert Rusler is not charismatic enough to be a leading man although he has become a good toughie. Frankly, his character is the main deficiency of this movie. Carson has a big character development arch and she needs Buzz to be much better.

I saw at the bottom of the page, that "if you like this title we also recommend American Graffiti". So true, so true. Of course, it can't be compared to "graffiti", but it's a movie with many laughs and adorable characters.

I saw this movie last night, maybe for the tenth time or something. I had a good time as always. Then of course, I am a very nostalgic person and if your favorite movie is "Matrix" or "Minority report" you might not like it.

The title is a little confusing since there aren't that many dance scenes, but I honestly don't care. I'm just looking for a temporary time machine with the course aimed for 1963. Besides, the dancing moments of the movie are quite enough.

Shag takes off with four friends going away to Myrtle beach for a weekend of total fun. Luanne is the proper one who is almost always upset or embarrassed, and she kind of takes the "leader" role, since they are all going in her car and staying at her fathers (the senator's) house, (where you can't sit on the furniture's, use the phone or drink the senator's bourbon). Pudge is a nice girl who has held everything back all her life, but no more! She is also the one who is responsible for the most "shagging" in the movie. Melaina (Fonda) is the wild one who dreams of a career in Hollywood since she is "neither marrying Harvey nor going to college". Carson (Cates) is the sweet and unexperienced girl who IS marrying Harvey. Also, when the movie begins, she thinks that they are going someplace else. But the girls have other plans and they are determined to take Carson for a weekend that she will never forget. One last fling together. A plot like this CAN'T go wrong.

Anyway, by the end of the movie they are all different people, and they have learned that things are not always as they seem. You have control of your own destiny. Carson meets Buzz (the lines that these two people have are unbeatable), Luanne gives the audience a real "necking-surprise" and Melaina finally meets Jimmy Valentine who she considers to be her key to a life of luxury in Hollywood. ( I laugh every time Jimmy does his "move"). The story which I like the best though, is the love that develops between Pudge and the "navy" boy Chip. They are just so good people and the conversations between them so sweet and innocent. You really feel happy for them. It would be a crime not making them a couple.

This movie has a great ending. The kind which makes you wonder what happens to the people in the film. You actually care about them.

The acting is terrific. Bridget Fonda gets a lot of room and maybe it's because her character is the most interesting one. This was before she became a star. I think Phoebe Cates is one of the most underrated actresses ever. Just think about it, how she effects an audience. When she opens her mouth you can't look away. It's like she is born to make these parts. She isn't acting. She IS her characters. " Yes, I am wild. I guess I've been wild all of my life, without even knowing it". One of many great lines in this movie.

The one thing that always impresses me in these movies is the setting. They actually make it look like in 1963. The cars, the clothes, the colors, the buildings. It's incredible.

If you like these kind of movies, and haven't seen this one, you should be ashamed of yourself! Grade: 8/10

"Get on your shagging shoes."

Seemingly both an homage to Where the Boys Are (1960) and an homage to South Carolina (and indeed two of the three screenwriters are from there), Shag has four high school seniors sneaking off to Myrtle Beach in search of boys and fun times. It's 1963 and they're looking for one last fling before they graduate and go their separate ways - in a couple of cases, to college, and in another, to become the wife of a boring but rich scion.

The film has an infectious spirit to it, and boasts an interesting cast, including Bridget Fonda, Phoebe Cates, Page Hannah (Daryl's sister), and Tyrone Power, Jr. (son of the late actor). While I liked all of them here, especially Cates with her southern delivery, it's Annabeth Gish ("Pudge," ugh) and Scott Coffey ("Chip") who steal the show with their sweet romance. Unfortunately, part of the reason they stand out so much is because so many of the other characters are rather repellant.

There is all sorts of problematic content to be found here, so obviously don't watch it if you're expecting a film with today's sensibilities (or to be harsh, even a modicum of respect for women). The fact that a beautiful, perfectly normal (if not thin) actor (Gish) is repeatedly referred to as having a weight problem was one of the most glaring things. In another disturbing scene, Hannah's character is essentially assaulted by a guy in a bar in front of everyone for an extended period, with the "joke" being that he just won't quit and she must fend him off on her own. The hunky guy who aggressively pursues Cates's character is meant to be a protagonist, but he's kind of an a$$hole, among other things opining "marriage is just a legal form of prostitution," and yet, he still gets her in more ways than one in the end.

And then you also have the pervasive use of the Confederate flag, including a scene where Bridget Fonda practically assaults it, pulling it back and forth between her legs, while rehearsing a risqué dance number to the tune of "Dixie." She's the "horny one," a direct analogy to Yvette Mimieux's character in Where the Boys Are, even named similarly (Melaina vs. Melanie), who finds herself battling a couple of local girls for the attention of the boys. In a talent competition, one of them prances around in a Confederate bikini, while she recites a speech from Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. Aside from this odious celebration of "heritage," it just seemed kind of lazy, I mean, we get it already, it's in the South.

So with all of that and the uninteresting scenes of kids partying hard, it became hard to root too much for these characters aside from Pudge and Chip. Oh, and the black maid (Pearl Jones), who despite being a stereotypical, token role, humorously quips "Y'all is the horniest bunch of white folks I ever seen!" after finding yet another teenager locked in a kiss behind closed doors. Despite the film's issues, it did hold my interest, mainly because of its cast, and somehow I never began actively disliking it. That's hardly a recommendation though.

Like all nostalgia movies, Shag is dull, self-indulgent m@sturb@tion filmed off a script cobbled from a college freshman's diary. I mean, Terry Sweeney, come on now. Doesn't he/she/it always rank at the bottom of those ''SNL Cast Members: First to Worst" lists?

It's like watching a boring family's home movies, but the movies are all about the parents when they were teenagers 30+ years ago.

Characters so obxnoxiously smug, white and upper middle class it makes you cheer for the Vietnam draft. Or at least some bl#ck kids to come along and introduce some rock and roll music. Well, OK, there's some of that super-safe 50s and 60s MOR garbage from bl#ck artists in the soundtrack, but all it does is serve to accentuate how dull and white the characters are.

There's nothing funny here. Nothing dramatic. No discernible plot. And considering how much sorta-making out they imply is going on, it has about as much s3x appeal as a weekday morning mass.

When the four girls are singing acapella on the front of the fancy house I nearly barfed. And then, wammo, a bl#ck singer appears on the screen. Just in time for the credits to roll and for his band - or were those waiters - to sing and dance toward the camera in a way that is reminiscent of Stepnfetchit shtick from 40s movies.

I'm white and I was mortified.

I watched this movie only to get a look at Tyrone Power, Jr., and ended up enjoying it immensely. Set in 1963 before the assassination of JFK, four young southern women go to Myrtle Beach for a last hurrah before college and, in one way or another, their lives change. Phoebe Cates is a virginal brunette engaged to uptight Tyrone Power, Jr., but winds up falling for Robert Rusler; Bridget Fonda is a comely blond looking to win Miss Sun Queen; Annabeth Gish is everybody's pal who wants to be somebody's girlfriend; and Page Hannah is the plain daughter of a senator hoping to keep her daddy's liquor cabinet locked and his house clean so nobody knows she and her friends were there. The movie culminates with a shagging (some kind of dancing) contest.

I suspect that some of us old-timers might like this movie even more than the teens and twenty-somethings - it sure brings you back to a time when kids talked about getting to second base, going all the way, and asked questions like, Have you ever put your tongue in anyone's ear? Shag captures the atmosphere of fun and hilarity one only gets at an early age and away from one's parents. The sound track is fabulous. Highly recommended if you want to feel young again.

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.

I am from Myrtle Beach, SC ( where Shag takes place ) and I find the movie to be absolutely delightful. It takes place in the 60's with 4 young high school graduates just wanting to have a final hoo-rah before one of their best buds enters wedlock. The story follows the four girls through their very different weekends at the beach. All the while mingling the title of the movie with the actual dance that was and is all the craze on the Grand Strand. This movie is only rated PG but deals with a few stronger elements. It involves bad language, teen drinking and loss of virginity. Most will skim over children's heads, but parents still use caution. I watched the film a million times as a child and continue as an adult too. The movie is a perfect mix of scandal, mischief, young love, and music. Highly recommended as an all time favorite film.

This movie isn't going to win best picture anytime soon, but short of "Dirty Dancing" this might be the best fun summer romance there is. It's one of those stories that lets you spend time with several female archetypes: The Bad Girl, The "Fat" Girl ready to come into her own, The Goody-Two-Shoes/Nerd and The Dutiful Pretty Girl. While this may seem cheesy, it's a structure that's been working since Jane Austen gave us Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia Bennett. Women enjoy trying on various identities vicariously, and (to move back into the future) we all have a little bit of Carrie and Samantha in us. Of the actresses in this movie only two have much name recognition - Bridget Fonda's delicious bad girl and Phoebe Cates' debutante about to marry the wrong man. But all the actors suit the tone and contents of the movie, and it ends up feeling realistic, if only because this particular formula - the summer fling on vacation - is something that often happens in real life. This movie is a joy to watch for its Myrtle Beach period location, its sexy but not explicit romance, and, of course, the titular dancing of the shag. Download it with your girlfriends and have a fantastic slumber party.

Four friends head to Myrtle Beach, SC after high school graduation. There they meet boys, have a party (hellacious for 1963), and enter a fabulous dancing contest. This movie is fun, keeps your attention, and is wonderful to be able to see the period (early 1960s) cars, hotels, dancing pavilion, etc. in Myrtle Beach. I would recommend this movie for a nice evening to just feel good. The only bit of concern is that the original VHS that was released in 1989 and the DVD versions are fine-- but somewhere in between there was a version released on VHS for about $10 that was a disappointment-- it had deleted/changes music. Beware of this version. The new DVD version is intact. The original music is nice and adds to the era in which this movie takes place. Young and old alike will like this movie.

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.

Charming, colorful, and spirited are a few words I can apply to "Shag - The Movie." In case you're wondering, the title is referring to a style of dancing that was popular in southern U.S. beach communities during the late 1950's, and through the 1960's. "Shag" is the kind of movie in which the viewer may wish they were there; partaking in everything that's happening between old and new friends. Friendship is the basis of the movie, which is set in the summer of 1963. The main characters are four girls who have one final fling before they go their separate ways into adulthood. Carson (Phoebe Cates) is engaged to be married to an up-and-coming tobacco tycoon named Harley (Tyrone Power Jr.) Luanne (Page Hannah) is the daughter of a wealthy senator. Caroline (Annabeth Gish) goes by "Pudge" as a nickname. She has a reputation for being overweight even though she's turning into a slimmer young woman. Melaina (Bridget Fonda) is rebellious, and has a sexually liberated attitude. Four girls who are often as different as can be, but they're still the best of friends. Their friendship is sometimes tested when they reach the destination of their final fling: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Throughout the movie common teen subjects arise: Alcohol, sex, careers, future plans, dating, and marriage are some of the subjects discussed. Naturally guys come into play, and the characters of Buzz (Robert Rusler) and Chip (Scott Coffey) are introduced. Buzz is free-spirited and lively. Chip is a young man on his way to becoming a Marine. Along the way Carson and Buzz develop an attraction for each other, which threatens Carson's engagement to Harley. The relationship between Carson and Buzz grows, and soon Carson finds it difficult to stop herself from being drawn to him. Eventually Harley shows up in Myrtle Beach, which creates some surprises for everyone. Luanne and Harley have a respect for each other, but there also seems to be a hint of a mutual interest between them. Pudge and Chip hit it off, and plan to enter the shag dance contest. Their growing relationship is interesting, because it's not immediately known if Chip likes Pudge as much as she likes him. The character of Melaina goes through a few phases, but her main goal is to nab a career in Hollywood. Cliff-hangers seem to be common throughout "Shag - The Movie": Will Carson break off her engagement to Harley, and find love with Buzz? Would a break-up lead Harley to Luanne? Will Pudge and Chip find they love each other, and will they still be in the shag contest? Will Melaina be discovered, and be on her way to Hollywood? Will the parents find out the girls lied by going to Myrtle Beach instead of going on an educational tour? Obviously these are answered by the film's end, but along the way there are fun times to be had! One big party, meeting a teen idol, a beauty contest, and the shag contest provide lots of fun. Tender moments, competition, and conflicts keep the movie well grounded. The summer of 1963 is re-created with amusement park rides, jukeboxes, carhops, vintage cars, and music. The soundtrack is made of new versions of songs that had been hits in that era, and also original vintage oldies. The soundtrack also features new, original recordings, but they don't always have an authentic sound (this is the only negative comment I have on the entire movie.) Sets, props and locations fit well with the 1963 setting. The movie is well filmed, well scripted, and contains a lot of memorable dialogue. The humor is satisfying more on a delightful scale, and there doesn't seem to be an attempt at too many big laughs. In this case a more subtle style of humor works very well, and adds to the charm of the movie. The entire cast does a wonderful job! Each performance is well-crafted, and the cast is full of talent. The interactions of the actors and the chemistry between each character keep the movie fun and high-spirited. "Shag - The Movie" is a crowd pleaser for all audiences, and worth multiple viewings. Put on your shagging shoes, and enjoy a movie that really is the bee's knees!

First saw this film around 8yrs ago on Channel 4 (UK) Excellent, Fantastic - Phoebie cates - Sexy - luv the sixties look the cars and the shag music (of course shag means something else here in Engalnd) So I wondered what the film was about when I heard it was coming on t.v. I want them to bring a follow up maybe with the same stars - See how they got on life. I'm now 34 and must have seen this film around 50 times on the same video but am now looking for a Region 2 Dvd - but can only find Reg1 USA/Canada. Have tried Ebay but no luck, but I will keep on watching the film until my tape gives up. If you have never seen this film - You have missed an excellent film - better than Dirty Dancing - Wonderful and the cast Excellent. Karl

`This was our last weekend together, and we didn't feel like going to Ft. Sumter and touring goddamn colonial homes! We wanted to go to the beach! And meet boys! And go to wild parties! And dance!' One of the most overlooked but greatest girl-movies all time, *Shag* is a meticulously crafted period piece that takes a look back at the summer of '63 - a hallowed summer cinematically, supposedly representing an innocent America untouched by the coming traumas of the Sixties. It is the story of four girls who have just graduated from high school who hightail it to Myrtle Beach - the forbidden zone of boys and booze. As they whoop it up, each of them has their eyes opened to a reality that is not part of the world their parents laid out for them. `Y'all, I'm *wild*,' Cates' character tells her friends towards the end of the movie, `I guess I always have been - I just didn't know it,' and Cates' youthful beauty and innocence make it completely believable. Hannah seems to not take herself as seriously as her more famous sister does - and her hilarious portrayal of the tight-assed Luanne morphs from rigid propriety to semi-unbridled lust. Pudge finally meets a boy who loves her for everything she is, and Gish has a field day with the character. But it is Fonda's portrayal of the bad-girl preacher's daughter who steals the show. Described by one reviewer as `*Dirty Dancing* meets *Mystic Pizza* meets *American Graffiti*,' as a coming-of-age film, *Shag* is nothing less than enchanting.

This has been a classic, for me, since I was about 12 years old. It was popular slumber party fare back then, but it's aged well and I still enjoy watching it today. The story follows a group of high school grads as they set off for one last weekend together in Myrtle Beach. It's your basic friendship/coming of age story with a backdrop of 1963 beach life in South Carolina. The film has fantastic eye candy; the actors, the clothes, the hair, and the scenery come to life in lollipop-colored fun. There's just enough plot to keep it interesting, and the right balance of humor without too much sentimentality. All of this, combined with good performances from a strong ensemble cast, makes for easy repeat-watching. My only problem with the film was the soundtrack tampering that took place with the VHS (second) version. Luckily, the original soundtrack has been restored for the DVD version (or most of it, as I can recall). The music is perfect and really adds to the enjoyment of the film and the sense of time period. It may look a bit cheesy, and probably is, but it's a fabulous popcorn flick that will put you in a good mood, guaranteed.

I was born and raised in South Carolina. My aunt had a beach house in Isle of Palms, SC and we spent each and every summer there with my entire family; aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents included. My family is the definition of a classy, South Carolinian family; not trashy or redneck (like some of the girls in the film as you know.) My aunts and uncles competed in the most well known of shag competitions at the beaches in South Carolina and were very well known within that circuit. I can proudly say they won first place in many, many competitions. Anyway, that is all besides the point! My grandmother and Aunt would put this movie on every single night at our beach house for my sister and I before we went to sleep in my Aunt's bed while all of the adults were downstairs shagging and having "the most fun". My aunt was diagnosed with cancer and died when I was 8 so, needless to say, due to medical bills, we lost the beach house and all of the memories that went along with it.

This film is the epitome of my childhood. It is EXTREMELY truthful to how South Carolina was back in the day and for anyone that is curious, Shag was filmed in Myrtle Beach as well as Isle of Palms, SPARTANBURG not SPARTENBURG, Greenville, Anderson, Columbia, Orangeburg, Edisto Island, and Georgetown, all in South Carolina. I actually live down the street to one of the houses filmed in the beginning at home with the girls.

One of the things I treasure most from my childhood is this film :) I know it line for line and will never forget that people like my family made it possible for nostalgia such as the scenes displayed in Shag to have even taken place.

Now if only the Yankees would leave and never come back... and STOP wearing your shoes on our beaches!