Annoying/unnecessary aspects of the film. Spoilers.

1. Erik von Zipper and the bike gang. If they had to have bikers involved, the should've lost Zipper. And why is everyone in the gang 40 years old?

2. Pie Fight at the end. Was a pie in the face *ever* truly funny?

3. The beatnik poets, and Vincent Price. Although the beatniks generally weren't as bad as the above.

4. The cheesy dancing, especially at the end credits.


Better stuff:

I thought the professor and his anthropological research was an interesting angle, because the whole point of the film was as a "study" of teen culture at the beach. He was a proxy for every older person (guy) watching the movie. And having Annette cuddle up to him obviously served those older male viewers' fantasies.

His behavior was fairly cheesy, but hey, it was 1963.

Enjoyed the surf scenes, especially the stunts. Fairly impressive, despite working with modest waves.

Loved the view of malibu in the early 60's, before it became over-developed.

Loved the idea of teens of that era being so carefree.

Thought Dick Dale was pretty hip for 1963 -- decent guitar/rock, even had an earring.