Greetings from the Shore (2007)

Director:

Greg Chwerchak

Writers:

Gabrielle Berberich (writer)
Greg Chwerchak (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Still reeling from the death of her father, a young girl spends one last summer at the Jersey Shore before heading off to college...

Awards:

28 wins

Cast

Kim Shaw	...	Jenny Chambers
Paul Sorvino	...	Catch Turner
David Fumero	...	Benicio Aceveda
Jay O. Sanders	...	Commodore Callaghan
Andrew Shaifer	...	Flip Dooley
Lars Arentz-Hansen	...	Lars Ramkildestrom
Gideon Emery	...	Sasha Mientkiewicz
Ron Geren	...	Christos Zazavich
Alexander Cendese	...	Owen Callaghan
Angela Pietropinto	...	Mrs. Salducci
Chuck Ardezzone	...	Foreman
Cordelia Reynolds	...	Heather
Jason Etter	...	Tyler
Cristin Milioti	...	Didi
Shevy Katan	...	Allison

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Lavallette, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Greetings From The Shore

Love Flourishes by the Water's Edge

Not knowing what to expect going in, I was pleasantly caught off guard by the simple elegance of "Greetings from the Shore," a terrifically earnest coming-of-age story of love and redemption set at the Jersey shore. Call it a love letter to the locale's sandy beauty, there's no denying the film's unabashed enthusiasm for the power of its setting.

"Greetings..." tells the story of Jenny Chambers (Kim Shaw), a Columbia University-bound girl reeling from the recent death of her father. Returning to the Jersey shore to work at a pizza parlor for the summer, Jenny's plans suddenly fall apart and she finds herself in rough waters teaching English to a group of nomadic, sea-legged (and less than amenable) waiters at a local boat club. Much more welcoming is "Catch" (Paul Sorvino), a retired sea veteran and mechanic who once fixed the Chambers family car and is now content to spend his days alone on his own landlocked vessel. When Jenny and one of the waiters, Benicio (David Fumero), develop a mutual attraction, Catch's fatherly protectiveness puts her in between a place of love's impetuousness and cautious practicality. The effect of this is that all are forced to reevaluate the plans, regrets and possibilities their lives have served up.

The cast is uniformly strong, the dialogue natural and assured, with the lush direction maximizing the scenery. Newcomer Kim Shaw brings with her a tough vulnerability and charm that will certainly make her an actress to watch, while Fumero offers many shades of complexity to a role that doesn't just require hot and brooding. Ever the consummate character actor, Sorvino exudes tenderness and heartbreak as a man torn up by his past. Other stand-outs include the scenery-chewing sinister club owner, "The Commodore" (Jay O. Sanders), and Benicio's pensive colleague, Lars (Lars Arentz-Hansen).

All in all, this is a well-made movie that satisfies the heart. Worth a couple of viewing hours for sure.