Fun under the sun
> The new Baywatch movie salutes the iconic TV series but amps it up with lots of stunts, action and drama
FOR a generation of TV fans the world over, the name Baywatch conjures up images of sun, surf and statuesque lifeguards, running in slow motion in form-fitting red swimsuits.
The hit TV show ran from 1989 to 1999, and in the tradition of film adaptations of classic television series such as Charlie’s Angels, The A-Team, G.I. Joe, and even 21 Jump Street, Baywatch is now set to hit the big screen here on June 1.
Baywatch follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (played by Dwayne Johnson), as he butts heads with a brash new recruit, played by Zac Efron.
Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.
Directed by Seth Gordon ( Horrible Bosses), this movie also stars Priyanka Chopra, Alexandra Daddario, Jon Bass, Kelly Rohrbach, and Ilfenesh Hadera.
“Baywatch is just about the most successful television show of all time,” says executive producer and star Johnson. “So I was drawn to the challenge of reintroducing a beloved property to a new audience who might not have grown up with it.
“Obviously, there was a lot about the original show that worked. So we wanted to keep some of the core elements in place while raising the stakes for a feature film.
“The stunts are bigger, the action is more intense, but we’re not taking ourselves as seriously as the show.”
On his character, Johnson said: “Mitch’s singular goal on any given day is to protect his beach and the people who come there to enjoy it.
“He cares deeply about the people of Emerald Bay and they love him for it, to the point that the locals have created their own mythology around him.”
From the beginning, Baywatch had been envisioned as a buddy comedy, and the producers knew they would need an actor who could hold his own against Johnson’s larger-than-life on-screen alter ego.
They found the perfect foil in Efron, who is quickly becoming a go-to actor for R-rated comedies, having recently added Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016) and Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising (2016) to his already-impressive resume.
“I wasn’t allowed to watch Baywatch growing up,” Efron laments. “But I do remember sneaking it, late at night, after Howard Stern, on a crappy old TV with a dial.
“One time, I was channel flipping and came across this awesome show full of boats and explosions and I just thought the whole thing was amazing.”
Efron plays Matt Brody, a bad boy Olympic swimmer and two-time gold medallist who arrives in Emerald Bay expecting a spot on Mitch’s highly-competitive, handpicked Baywatch team.
“Brody throws a wrench in things,” says Johnson. “We’ve got this team that’s gelling, but he’s this hotshot coming off the Olympics, who thinks he can just join the team without being trained properly.
“At the Olympics, Brody won his solo events, but messed up the team relay because he got drunk the night before,” explained Efron. “He did some illegal stuff, and joining Baywatch is part of his parole.” “Baywatch is like any dysfunctional family,” adds Johnson. “There’s conflict, but underneath, there’s respect. “If you’re going to be working with people for months at a time, you want to get along with them. I’m happy to report that we do.” The new Baywatch team is put to the test when a dangerous new drug begins washing up on the shores of Emerald Bay. The timing coincides with the opening of The Huntley Club, a high-end beach resort owned by the villainess Victoria Leeds, played by Miss World 2000 winner Priyanka, who makes her American film debut in Baywatch.
“I don’t think a lot of people understand what a ginormous hit Baywatch was in India,” said Priyanka.
“I’m still a huge fan, so when I read the script, I was concerned about what they’d do to my favourite characters ... but I couldn’t stop laughing.
“I’m thrilled to be playing the antagonist, because it’s a completely new character and I could be whatever I wanted to be.”
Initially, the film’s villain had been written for a man, but filmmakers agreed Priyanka’s casting could bring a new dynamic to the character.
Victoria proves to be Mitch’s opposite in every way.
Priyanka explains: “Mitch is an earnest public servant; Victoria is patronising, super rich and purely evil. He’s never out of uniform, she wears couture designer clothes and finds the beach disgusting.
“As an actor, to be able to play evil is always interesting. You’re able to do all the things that you can’t do in real life.”
As the owner of The Huntley Club, Victoria seeks to acquire and close Emerald Bay’s seaside shops to expand her operation, bringing her into direct conflict with Mitch and his team.
“There’s only one Emerald Bay,” says Johnson. “It may just be a strip of sand, but it means everything to this team. They’ll do anything to protect it.” – United International Pictures