‘Back to the Beach’ Revisited – Gen X’s Intro to Annette Funicello

For those of us not around for the Mickey Mouse Club in the mid-fifties, and who weren't yet present for the various beach party inspired movies of the '60s, our first real introduction to cheerful perkiness of Annette Funicello came via the 1987 motion picture "Back to the Beach."

Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon returned to parody themselves in this retro beach movie. No longer the surfer and the beach babe, Franky and Annette are now parents to a defiant son, convinced his parents are the pinnacle of lame, and a daughter striking out on her own. No longer were they worried as to who bore the status of royalty on the beach, but rather their concerns revolved around who their daughter might be sleeping with and whether or not their son was receiving a full, balanced diet.

"Back to the Beach" was magical, even for those of us too young in 1987 to fully understand what they were trying to parody.

Along the way, some very recognizable icons, even for the Gen X'ers, made their cameos. Bob Denver and Alan Hale Jr. showed up as Gilligan and the Skipper, Don Adams portrayed an uptight dock master, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers mocked themselves as Wally and "the Beav," and even Barbara Billingsley showed up to complete the ensemble.

For those wishing to get a "synopsis" of Annette Funicello's remarkable work without having to scan thousands of hours of Micky Mouse Club and teeny-bopper beach movies, it is a worthy investment of time, not to mention a great source for a healthy chuckle and good-hearted fun, to revisit "Back to the Beach."