Aquamarine (2006)

52% of critics liked it
(86 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(276,161 ratings)

Two teenagers think they have problems until they come to the rescue of a girl with a fishy story to tell in this teen-oriented comedy. Thirteen-year-old Claire (Emma Roberts) and same-aged Hailey (Joanne "JoJo" Levesque) are two close friends living in Tampa, FL, who are facing a separation in a… More Two teenagers think they have problems until they come to the rescue of a girl with a fishy story to tell in this teen-oriented comedy. Thirteen-year-old Claire (Emma Roberts) and same-aged Hailey (Joanne "JoJo" Levesque) are two close friends living in Tampa, FL, who are facing a separation in a few weeks -- Claire's mother is a marine biologist who has been given a prestigious new job in Australia, meaning the girls are not likely to see much of each other again. While the girls wonder if there's anything they can do to avoid the inevitable, a storm breaks out and the waves toss an unusual example of sea life into Hailey's swimming pool -- Aquamarine (Sara Paxton), a teenaged mermaid who has some problems of her own. Aquamarine's father is a leader of the undersea world who has arranged for his daughter to marry a boy whom she doesn't care for. It seems Dad doesn't put much stock in the land-locked notion of love, and unless Aquamarine can prove to him that it's real, she will have to go through with the wedding. Claire and Hailey find Aquamarine, and discover that she fortunately sprouts legs when on dry land during the daylight hours; after learning of her romantic dilemma, they decide to help her by teaching her how to turn the head of Raymond (Jake McDorman), a cute lifeguard at the nearby beach. However, pretty Aquamarine learns her lessons well enough to make Cecilia (Arielle Kebbel), a mean girl with a crush on Raymond, jealous, leading her into a battle over the young man's affections, which Aquamarine has to win if she wants to avoid a loveless marriage. Aquamarine was the first feature film from director Elizabeth Allen. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Elizabeth Allen, Elizabeth Allen (II)
Written By: Alice Hoffman, Elizabeth Egloff, John Quaintance, Steven Rogers, Jessica Bendinger
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 3, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Jun 13, 2006
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Gregg Rickman, Village Voice
This movie, in fact, is all about conformity.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
This film is entirely harmless. It's utterly forgettable.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
The movie has a sweetness and innocence that makes it near perfect entertainment for its target audience.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Like its title character, Allen's choppy and inconsistent film has two speeds, ditsy or sentimental, and never gathers momentum.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Aquamarine really is just an adorable movie. And along the way, life lessons about love, friendship, adjusting to bad news and overcoming grief -- are passed along in a not-that-obvious fashion.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
Girls deserve a fun time at the movies, but they also deserve movies with a better message than Fib, Flirt and Shop.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Director Elizabeth Allen sets a nicely easy-breezy tone for Aquamarine, but her comic timing is sometimes shaky and she sadly cannot overcome the weaknesses of the script.
Todd Hertz, Christianity Today
The movie scores a major victory in reaching its audience with the all-too-important message that they are fine just the way they are.
Michael Szymanski, Sci-Fi Weekly
Kids seem to love the recognizable 'tween stars, but for the rest of us it's sort of like the cotton-candy scene%u2014we're not sure whether to eat it or rub our faces in it.
Joe Utichi, FilmFocus
As shameless as trashy cookie-cutter studios movies will ever get.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
The performances are charming, particularly JoJo Levesque, who is rapidly becoming the new Lindsay Lohan (only in a good way).
Anna Smith, Time Out
Unfortunately, the performances are often clunky and the art direction and CG are wanting, so anyone over the age of eight is likely to find it cheap around the edges. One for very little mermaids.
Anna Smith, Empire Magazine
This fantasy comedy should entertain its pre-teen female market -- and repel those silly superficial boys (swoon).
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
This is when my job feels like work.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
From Aquamarine to Hoot to Stick It, 2006 is turning out to be a banner year for the tweener-geared film.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
if you aren't expecting much, Aquamarine isn't an utterly awful way to spend an afternoon
Stella Papamichael, BBC
For supervising grownups, its giddy leanings will induce seasickness.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
It's silly and trivial but harmless enough for undemanding teenage girls, and Roberts and Levesque make a vivacious team.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Brad W

Aquamarine is crap, that is basically all I have to describe it. The story was boring, the cast was terrible, and overall I never enjoyed it one bit, it was a bad movie.
Bethany M

A cute chick flick that also has you well up in tears of joy. Wasn't as bad as people say and it actually leaves you feeling really happy.
Cynthia S

Cute movie for young teenage girls.
Richard C

boring and stupid. D
KJ P

Very average, yet somewhat enjoyable! Worth watching once!
Luke B

Predictable young teenage stuff going on. Flirting with the boys, being an outcast and meeting mermaids. We've all been there. Despite the whole mermaid angle, it's surprisingly devoid of any magic or fantasy. Bruce Spence has a nice unpredictable role, that he does a lot… More
Predictable young teenage stuff going on. Flirting with the boys, being an outcast and meeting mermaids. We've all been there. Despite the whole mermaid angle, it's surprisingly devoid of any magic or fantasy. Bruce Spence has a nice unpredictable role, that he does a lot with in his limited screen time. Manages to hold your attention, even if it doesn't quite entertain.
Leigh R

Cute.
Cassie H

Cute Movie
Red L

I guess the rating one gives this depends on your age and how many movies you have seen. Aquamarine is a mermaid who is looking for love as she is about to married off to a someone she hates in Mermaidland. But it really feels like a kid's movie. It does have a moral aspect… More
I guess the rating one gives this depends on your age and how many movies you have seen. Aquamarine is a mermaid who is looking for love as she is about to married off to a someone she hates in Mermaidland. But it really feels like a kid's movie. It does have a moral aspect which I don't mind.
Sophie B

A truely original moive with a great plot, great cast, and great ending. Unpredictable and cute.
Dean M

Great fish-out-of-water hilarious comedy of a beautiful mermaid is discovered and befriended by two teenage girls. I haven't seen a sexy mermaid for a long time in any movies since <i>Splash!</i>.
Rachel F

It's another one of those silly, teen flicks...but it was alright.
Sanjaya &

What a very interesting movie to watch... It's so lovely... They made a great story of friendship here.... With some love of course... Three girls with their story of friendship, love and trust... So sweet, lovely, and charming
Bradley W

Aquamarine is crap, that is basically all I have to describe it. The story was boring, the cast was terrible, and overall I never enjoyed it one bit, it was a bad movie.
Mouhannad S

This movie is nothing but really bad acting and little girls laughing. It's horrible. The plot is that a mermaid named Aquamarine is discovered by two girls. Aquamarine grows feet and can stay on land if she can get someone to say they love her in three days, or else she has to… More
This movie is nothing but really bad acting and little girls laughing. It's horrible. The plot is that a mermaid named Aquamarine is discovered by two girls. Aquamarine grows feet and can stay on land if she can get someone to say they love her in three days, or else she has to marry who her father chooses. Nonstop cheesy dialog, effects and everything else will appeal to young girls.
Panta O

I am not sure if I want to waste your time at all reading this review... I saw it because it was a Gold Coast product from Australia (of course all Australian actors had a bad American accents) and I regretted it. Simple story, but at moments (like a mermaid swimming big time in 10 m… More
I am not sure if I want to waste your time at all reading this review... I saw it because it was a Gold Coast product from Australia (of course all Australian actors had a bad American accents) and I regretted it. Simple story, but at moments (like a mermaid swimming big time in 10 m swimming pool and no one could see her) really unbelievable! At the time when credits were due, it was understandable that acting couches were listed - they all needed them so badly!
Dannielle A

Kind of cheesey and teenie-bopperish... but very cute.
Jackson W

A film that attempts to be the modern day version of The Little Mermaid turns out to be a sugary bubblegum pop film that manages to be the more milder of teen comedies
Andreia C

How did I even watch this?
Yinalí R

Good movie.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Jake McDorman as Raymond

            Arielle Kebbel as Cecilia

            Claudia Karvan as Ginny

            Bruce Spence as Leonard

            Tammin Sursok as Marjorie

            Julia Blake as Grandma Maggie

            Roy Billing as Grandpa Bob

            Dave Gilbert as Halfday Band Member

            Emma Roberts as Claire

            E.G. Daily
            
            Shaun Micallef as Storm Banks

            Sara Paxton as Aquamarine

            Christopher Brady as Halfday Band Member

            Jessica Danielle Smith as Halfday Band Member

            Adam King as Shopkeeper

            Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque as Hailey

            Lulu McClatchy as Bonnie

            Natasha Cunningham as Patty

            Dichen Lachman as Beth-Ann

            Matthew Okine as Nick

            Regis Broadway as Vince

            Robbie Parkin as Pool Guy

            Joey Massey as Little Boy

            Dillon Stephensen as Waiter

            Donna Fox as Firewoman

            Alice Hunter as Beach Girl

            Nathan Lockwood as Halfday Band Member

            Lincoln Lewis as Theo

            JoJo
            
See full cast