Based on a Book

The sun, the sand, and a sweet sassy mermaid--what more could any young girl want from summer? Claire (Emma Roberts, Nancy Drew: The Mystery in Hollywood Hills) and Hailey (JoJo, R.V.) go giddy at the sight of hunky lifeguard Raymond (Jake McDorman). When... Read More

The sun, the sand, and a sweet sassy mermaid--what more could any young girl want from summer? Claire (Emma Roberts, Nancy Drew: The Mystery in Hollywood Hills) and Hailey (JoJo, R.V.) go giddy at the sight of hunky lifeguard Raymond (Jake McDorman). When a storm washes a mermaid named Aquamarine (Sara Paxton, Sleepover) into a swimming pool, Claire and Hailey agree to help her find love--even if it's with Raymond--because Aquamarine will grant them a wish that will keep Hailey from having to move away to Australia. Parents of preteen girls may approach Aquamarine with dread, but the movie's formulaic beginnings are given a heartening twist; the movie starts by wallowing in Cosmogirl-fueled boy-craziness, but finishes as an unexpectedly touching paean to friendship (with some surprisingly down-to-earth suggestions about romance). Roberts and JoJo are a charming duo, eager to be older than they are, but in the end growing up no faster than they need to. Also featuring Bruce Spence, known to some viewers as the Gyro Captain from The Road Warrior and to others as the voice of a shark in Finding Nemo. --Bret Fetzer

This wide-eyed, magical tale by distinguished author Alice Hoffman reflects the pale blue hue of two 12-year-old friends about to be parted at summer's end. Hailey and Claire have lived next door to each other and have been best friends all their lives... Read More

This wide-eyed, magical tale by distinguished author Alice Hoffman reflects the pale blue hue of two 12-year-old friends about to be parted at summer's end. Hailey and Claire have lived next door to each other and have been best friends all their lives, but now Claire's family is going to move away to Florida. The two hang out at the neighborhood beach club in the blistering heat, dreading the end of things. The Capri Beach Club, too, is coming to an end--neglected and shabby, due to be bulldozed at the end of the season.

Despite the girls' fear of change, everything shifts with a summer storm. At the beach club the next morning, Hailey and Claire find that the storm has left its mark, filling the cloudy waters of the swimming pool with jellyfish and seaweed. Hailey boldly dives in and discovers that the waves have also brought a delicate blue and white mermaid who is extremely grouchy at her predicament. The girls scheme to return the fish-woman to the sea, but she obstinately refuses to leave the vicinity of Raymond, the handsome boy who runs the gift shop. Alarmed at the mermaid's growing weakness, Hailey and Claire extract her promise to go back to the sea in exchange for one evening with Raymond. They set up a blind date, dress her in a long blue dress to hide her tail, and take her to the rendezvous in a wheelchair. But the next morning the dying mermaid is in love, and the patio is full of partygoers. Can the girls sneak her past all those eyes to save her life? And will she let them? Young teens will be entranced by the strange dreaminess of this poignant little story about love and loss. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell