Wordiezett So much average

Executscan Expected more

Konterr Brilliant and touching

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

sol- Opening with majestic aerial shots that capture the serene beauty of the beach where the title character works, this low key yet potent drama revolves around a thirtysomething lifeguard who begins to question the viability of the job that he loves amid mounting family pressure and a new girlfriend with a young boy to support. "I still wonder what you're going to be when you grow up" announces the main character's father at an uncomfortable family dinner in which the camera tracks back and forth across the table, perfectly capturing the ease and tension in the air at a key point. Thoughtfully shot as the film may be, and thought-provoking as the screenplay by 'Into the Night' screenwriter Ron Koslow certainly is, the key element that drives the film is Sam Elliott's towering lead performance. The way he simply shyly smiles at many points conveys more than words possibly could and fans of 'The Big Lebowski' will likely be interested to see Elliott younger than ever but still possessing the same very natural charisma. Having fallen into obscurity over the years, 'Lifeguard' is a far from flawless film with the drawn-out montages set to maudlin music the most obvious vice, but most aspects of the film work - even an initially awkward romance that develops between Elliott and a teenage beachgoer set on seducing him. There is a lot to be said about the effectiveness of the final few shots of the film too; while one might not necessarily agree with his decisions by the end of the film, it is easy every step of the way to sympathise with the choices he makes.

Danny Blankenship Finally after all these years I finally watched the film "Lifeguard" as my oldest aunt had always told me she loved the film since she's a Sam fan, anyway the film is about life and it's choices. Sam Elliott is Rick Carlson a man still in his mid 30's and his life is that of a California lifeguard on the sunny and sandy beaches of the golden state. Rick is a man at a crossroads he starts to think and wonder where is his life going as after going to his high school reunion he sees his old flame(played by Anne Archer)who's now divorced and sticking to him like glue at the beach is a young want to be intimate teenager(played by Kathleen Quinlan). This film has it fun with passion, and doubt still it shows that one must have a choice in life to decide what's right for them as in the end happiness could come from just being yourself as in Rick's case staying a lifeguard on the beach is A okay.

elshikh4 Well, it's not unusual to have a small and cute movie. These are the movies which we pilgrimage to, escaping from Hollywood's big and loud movies. The thing is, this time, it is unusual to have a unique hero; with new solution for his conflict. So how is that ? Simply because this hero we watched didn't eventually choose the teenage girl who materializes his impetuosity for life, as well as his dive into it. And he also didn't choose the mature woman / his old love who materializes rationality and stability. The man preferred to choose his freedom, his self with its own defects. He preferred to work what he really loves, succeeds in, and can't forbid himself of doing (his work as a daily Life Guard at the beach), so maybe he could find someday that love which would harmonize with his status, and not the status which would harmonize with his love ! He is an interesting type of hero, who achieved his victory on circumstances for his invariability. And his very success was nothing but realizing that his happiness and his immutability were one thing, which if he tried to change; he would lose the thing he loved the most : his selfsame, or his precious nature. Although he knew very well that he is losing a lot in the same time "I know that I'm losing.. more than you could imagine !" but he selected not to select anything of what was in front of him.. and that – in itself – is a selection. In fact, we aren't used to watch this kind of heroes in the movies but rarely. That's why this movie isn't small and cute only, but rare too.

bmeadow1 Is life-guarding a grown-up job? What does it mean to be a grownup, anyway? Who decides how people should spend their lives?These are among the questions examined in this beautifully written character study of a man who has decisions to make.They're not issues that will change the world, but the kind of small decisions we wrestle with every day. What is really important? Why do we do what we do? Who influences how we behave? Should we conform because that's what people want of us?I remember once in TV Guide an ad that showed a buffed-out Sam Elliott with the caption, "He's every woman's dream--Lifeguard!" But this film has nothing to do with looks, and everything to do with character. It's a terrific piece of work, ringing true in scene after scene.