Looking for a great children's movie with a Hawaiian theme? Rip Girls has it all. Although the ostensible story line is a bit implausible, the taste of Hawaiian culture and respectful treatment of all generations is well above expectations. This is the kind of movie I used to expect routinely from Disney.
17 Reviews
It wouldn't take much
bkoganbing29 May 2016
If I ever inherited a piece of Hawaiian beachfront real estate it wouldn't take much to convince me to stay. But when Dwier Brown gets some property from his late wife's family he wants to be rid of it. Her death in a surfing accident is still haunting him even though he's now married to Lauren Sinclair.
The catch here is that the property is in his daughter's name, his daughter by his first wife. So young Camille Belle has to agree. The locals however do not want to see some developer come and build condos. They launch on a campaign to reconnect Belle with her Hawaiian roots.
I always you cannot make an ugly picture in a Hawaiian locale and it's certainly true for Rip Girls. Camille Belle is pretty and charming in the lead role. Helping to convince her to stay are some of her mother's family and one hunky surfer kid Brian Stark. Another great reason never to leave Hawaii.
Rip Girls is a nice family film from the Magic Kingdom.
The catch here is that the property is in his daughter's name, his daughter by his first wife. So young Camille Belle has to agree. The locals however do not want to see some developer come and build condos. They launch on a campaign to reconnect Belle with her Hawaiian roots.
I always you cannot make an ugly picture in a Hawaiian locale and it's certainly true for Rip Girls. Camille Belle is pretty and charming in the lead role. Helping to convince her to stay are some of her mother's family and one hunky surfer kid Brian Stark. Another great reason never to leave Hawaii.
Rip Girls is a nice family film from the Magic Kingdom.
Decent for a Disney channel movie!
brandi-ferrell30 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
After watching ally cats strike, this felt like a breath of fresh air! It wasn't loud and in your face or trying to be cool, it was just a simple (and a bit predictable) story. The acting was decent for the most part. I'm not familiar enough with surfing or Hawaiian culture to know how accurately they were portrayed, but it all seemed mostly pretty believable. The over protective dad and the "but I'm 13 I'm practically an adult!" stuff is a bit over done. I'm sorry but I feel like a13 year old girl would know a little bit more about her mother and how she died. All the dad would have to say is "your mom died in a surfing accident, that's why I'm so scared for you to go surfing." Easy peasy!! Communication people! Anyway, it was better than most of the other Disney channel original movies leading up to this one, but I still have to score it a 5. A 5+! It's watchable, give it a shot!
My fav Disney channel movie
lotsolocks16 December 2000
Ver-E cute! I thought this was the most well done of the Disney tv movies I've seen. It's really an all ages movie, and it's something I could watch with my siblings, and my parents. I'd give this movie a 9.3 out of ten. I encourage everyone to see it.
Pretty good movie. Great scenery
ebradley-794411 May 2023
This is a good movie about kids who surf and a teen who inherits beach front land in Hawaii. The girl gets to know a bit more about her mom's family and has to decide if she should sell the land to developers or maintain her family's legacy and historic property.
The girl becomes more assertive with her over protective dad and step mom and meets on of her mom's best friends. It's a little cheesy but it is a Disney Channel movie.
I'm not sure why the review needs to be this long. I think that is ridiculous. I don't want to give away the whole story of the movie. Go watch it yourself if you'd like.
The girl becomes more assertive with her over protective dad and step mom and meets on of her mom's best friends. It's a little cheesy but it is a Disney Channel movie.
I'm not sure why the review needs to be this long. I think that is ridiculous. I don't want to give away the whole story of the movie. Go watch it yourself if you'd like.
Dear God could it be worse?
einhard-122 January 2006
Having three kids under the age of nine, I have seen more Disney Channel movies than probably any man alive. I should sue Walt Disney Company for the time wasted watching this turkey. How bad was this movie? My daughters, eight and five years old, both thought this movie was bad. The acting was stiff, to the point where elementary plays about the four food groups would win Oscars before any performance in this movie. The writing was poor, you could and we did guess the storyline well before it occurred. I have seen stories that third graders have written that have more meat to them than "Rip Girls." Rip Girls isn't even bad enough to make it fun to watch, a la "Plan Nine From Outer Space" or "They Saved Hitler's Brain." If the army forced Iraqi prisoners to watch this movie, they would be guilty of torture. Don't waste your time, it's too valuable for "Rip Girls."
I've got to give Disney credit for this one
oldschoolsurfing10 July 2003
Unlike most made for TV Disney Channel movies, Rip Girls shines through and delivers a decent plot and beautiful settings. All of the child actors do an excellent job, and are able to make the movie believable. Definitely a movie for all ages, it's somewhere below the action of Blue Crush, and above the absurdity of Lilo & Stitch. It's respectful of Hawaiian culture and tradition, and portrays surfing in a nice light. I'd recommend this movie to anyone willing to watch the Disney Channel.
Good movie, superb music
David-HMB2 September 2001
Here is a solid, satisfying film, very much in the mold of the best of Disney's product of recent years -- seamless, escapist and enjoyable.
Be especially on the lookout for the outstanding music by Philip Marshall. While helping drive the action forward and maintaining a resolute pace in the usual professional Disney fashion, the score also gives opportunities for some very tasty virtuoso slide guitar riffage, as well as mood-reinforcing Hawaiian slack key work.
The talents of Martha Coolidge have by no means gone astray here. As director of such under-appreciated gems as "Real Genius", "Rambling Rose", and "Valley Girl", her efforts as producer of "Rip Girls" seem to have pulled together a well-coordinated package well worth a look.
Be especially on the lookout for the outstanding music by Philip Marshall. While helping drive the action forward and maintaining a resolute pace in the usual professional Disney fashion, the score also gives opportunities for some very tasty virtuoso slide guitar riffage, as well as mood-reinforcing Hawaiian slack key work.
The talents of Martha Coolidge have by no means gone astray here. As director of such under-appreciated gems as "Real Genius", "Rambling Rose", and "Valley Girl", her efforts as producer of "Rip Girls" seem to have pulled together a well-coordinated package well worth a look.
What would you do if you inherited a chunk of Hawaii?
Milenkaya18 May 2001
Ignore the ramblings above, posted by someone who seems to want to talk more about herself than the movie in question.
Rip Girls is a wonderful little creation by Disney, yes, but they do churn out some pretty good made-for-TV movies. In this case about a young girl used to the city streets of Chicago who inherits a piece of Hawaiian paradise. Her father would sooner have her sell it to a resort developer but she finds herself discovering her roots, learning the secrets of her mother's life, and making new friends.
The developers want to take advantage of her. Her new "friends" are trying to influence her. And her father doesn't listen to her, treating her like a little kid. But in the end, she's the one holding all the cards and she only wants to do the right thing.
Like most Disney films, this one shines on-screen and is acted better by the young cast, led by gorgeous Camilla Belle, than the adult cast, that seems largely stale and plastic. With beautiful Hawaiian scenery and culture, Rip Girls is also a lot of fun with the surfing and the skating.
You don't need a movie ticket to see this one, so check it out. And see a young actress who knows how to act.
By the way, that kiss mentioned is a tiny little peck. Hardly as involved as you'd expect a lusty teenager to behave.
Rip Girls is a wonderful little creation by Disney, yes, but they do churn out some pretty good made-for-TV movies. In this case about a young girl used to the city streets of Chicago who inherits a piece of Hawaiian paradise. Her father would sooner have her sell it to a resort developer but she finds herself discovering her roots, learning the secrets of her mother's life, and making new friends.
The developers want to take advantage of her. Her new "friends" are trying to influence her. And her father doesn't listen to her, treating her like a little kid. But in the end, she's the one holding all the cards and she only wants to do the right thing.
Like most Disney films, this one shines on-screen and is acted better by the young cast, led by gorgeous Camilla Belle, than the adult cast, that seems largely stale and plastic. With beautiful Hawaiian scenery and culture, Rip Girls is also a lot of fun with the surfing and the skating.
You don't need a movie ticket to see this one, so check it out. And see a young actress who knows how to act.
By the way, that kiss mentioned is a tiny little peck. Hardly as involved as you'd expect a lusty teenager to behave.
Not what I expected
MovieLover102 May 2003
I thought it was about surfing! I love the whole movie and I'm glad it's not about surfing! I recommend this to almost anyone! This is a family movie! I guess it's for 8 and up since younger kids might not understand the story line and there was lots of blood on the girls face.
Very good
SanteeFats20 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I watch a lot of Disney movies because they are usually decent and well acted and, if a musical, well choreographed and the music is well done. While Rip Girls has no music or dancing it is another typical Disney film. Camilla Belle plays the lead as a thirteen year old girl who has the ultimate responsibility of wither or not a piece of property is sold to some big developers who want to turn the whole area into a resort.-. Can a thirteen year old legally sign anything that is binding?. She learns about her late mother and some history of her mother and the property everyone wants. Of course she ends up doing the right thing and not signing so all the locals can still enjoy the beach and the property.
I love this movie!!!
SanrioPC8 August 2002
Rip Girls (excellent movie)
EndlessLight10 February 2005
I loved this movie! It was so cute! Camilla Belle played Sydney very well! Was this movie based on a book? Well anyway, it has such a great plot, and I love the surfing scenes. Even though it is on Disney Channel, it was done very well, a lot better than the movies they produce now. I wish I could see it again, but they never play it! But, it was one of the best Disney movies. They didn't spoil it or anything, they kept it real unlike the movies they produce now. I wish they could do a sequel. It would be so cool to see Camilla Belle again even though she is a lot older now. If you haven't seen it, you can catch it on Disney Channel usually twice during the summer.
Best Disney Channel Movie Ever
Polaroid_Higgins3 July 2005
Sydney was born in Hawaii but moved to Chicago after a tragic surfing accident with her mom when she was young. Now she comes back there and tries surfing with her new friend after her dad said not to. After she gets into an accident and Kona saves her life she finds out that there is a Fiesta when the whales come up. A little romance between Sydney and Kona at the fiesta. All of Sydney's friends, except Kona, get mad at her because in the paper she said she sold their favorite surfing spot to people to build a new inn there. She was asked to sign a contract to make it permanent but she didn't know what to do. You'll have to see the movie to know all the details. I think it was awesome.
Liked it
parmy5211 October 2006
Unlike some of the other users, i actually liked this movie. OK, so i saw it when i was younger and haven't seen it since, i loved it when i was little. I used to wish that my life could be like Sydney's. Living in Hawaii, sneaking out of the house to go watch the whales, inheriting part of Hawaii, surfing, and having a cute Hawaiian surfer fall in love with me. It's all good. Great, once again, i can't submit this comment until i hav ten lines of text. Does anyone know which island this movie was filmed on. Did anyone see "When a Stranger calls", it's weird, i hadn't seen this movie in so many years, or seen Camilla Bell in years, but i recognized her the minute i saw her in the trailer for "When a Stranger Calls."
Fascenating to watch a movie being made
qantas59633 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Rip Girls was made in my home Town of Bogangar NSW Australia, I watched the producers and cast the whole time they were there. Until then i didn't know just how difficult it is making a movie. one of the producers i talked to said "we only record about 30 seconds of film per day", I was or inspired and (Yes its a long time ago now) just seeing the movie tonight "Wow it really looks like hawaii" , they do such a great job of dressing up a town it took me, a local to recognize where the movie was made. Unfortunately i don't live there any more i now live in far north Queensland, But just reflecting on the past it's truly magical what you can do with a camera and the wright equiptment. I remember one aftenoon in 99 We had a bad thunderstorm and i wondered are they going to be OK?. Of course they were. another curiosity, the movie was called Wahani When they made it. Why was that, and why do they change the names.
Kind Reguads Jared
Kind Reguads Jared
Like whatever
RNMorton30 April 2003
The basic plot is almost like science fiction. Teenage girl returns with remarried dad to Hawaii, after learning that she inherited primo beach-front surfing property from mom, who checked out long ago in - you guessed it - a freak surfing accident! Dad struggles with daughter's surfing, daughter struggles with greedy developers, her new friends struggle with possibility of losing their favorite surfing spot to a new resort. Everybody's happy in the end, the whole thing made bearable by the enthusiastic performances of Belle and her best friend Hess (a native Hawaiian who really can surf!). But don't hold your breath for any Blue Crush-style action scenes.
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