Where the Boys Are . Austin Chronicle . 07-27-98

Where the Boys Are

DIRECTED BY: Henry Levin

REVIEWED: 07-27-98

Considering how lame the bulk of teen movies made in the late Fifties and early Sixties look in retrospect, Where the Boys Are stands up respectably well. Considering. That still doesn't change the ludicrous presentation of "moral" issues at hand nor does it obfuscate the silliest of stereotypes perpetrated within, but Where the Boys Are is nonetheless good, clean fun in the sun. It's Easter in Fort Lauderdale and carloads of (white) college students have descended upon the Florida beach town to whoop it up as only college students know how. Naturally, this involves partying, drinking, and (by suggestion) sex, which is where things begin to get a little mucked up. Connie Francis, Dolores Hart (before convent vows, of course), Yvette Mimieux, and Paula Prentiss are "good" girls but, well ... we all know good girls are meant to have bad things happen around them in these types of films. Highlights include the famous "Elbow Room" party scene, where a myopic Frank Gorshin ends up underwater. For true contrast, this film should have been double-billed with Palm Springs Weekend but just think - almost 40 years later, this would be on MTV.

--Margaret Moser

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