MovieChat Forums > The Lifeguard (2013) Discussion > No reason to be 16, when Jason could've ...

No reason to be 16, when Jason could've been 18.

posted 11 years ago by Airman87
7 replies | jump to latest

There would've been no significant change to the story if they made Jason 18 instead of 16.

How hard would it have been to add a line where Jason explains he was held back a year in middle school for grades... thus he could be an 18 year old heading into his senior year of high school (as the film is set over the summer). The film wouldn't have read any different. Leigh still would've been hanging around high school teenagers and trying to subconsciously relive her youth.

In fact, it probably would've been a better story anyway because Leigh could've convinced Jason to stay for a year, graduate high school, then head to Vermont with a degree.

And of course... the film could've avoided the whole scrutiny of entertaining pedophilia notions!

The more I think about it, the more I think the Liz Garcia had some agenda to push, because it doesn't make any sense for him to be 16; they didn't even try and make him 17.

[–] Zakredding 11 years ago

I think you could be right with the agenda, it does make you wonder about her. I have not heard of her before so not sure what other films she has been involved with. If they intentionally left it in to cause controversy then its likely to to have just back fired. Everywhere I have seen mention of the film it seems they are having the same type of discussions we have been and the film isn't coming out looking good.

The similar points have been made over at http://www.rottentomatoes.com and on the trailers on www.youtube.com

[–] Airman87 11 years ago

Jump to the one minute mark: https://www.sundance.org/video/meet-the-artists-13-liz-garcia/

Liz Garcia definitely gives off a sexist vibe about the intention of this movie.

[–] Zakredding 11 years ago

Yeah I agree, explains a lot really... A woman with a chip on her shoulder about what society tells us or specifically women to do, then tries to make a film that in her mind is how it should be...

Thank god she is alone in her perverted fantasy...perhaps when the film bombs she will shut up and get back in her box...

[–] HighriseView 10 years ago

Sexist how?

[–] Synthia7 11 years ago

All movies have an agenda -- whether the writer or director vocalizes them or not. In addition to the story premise, there is subtextual ideology in every story.

Whether it's Scarface or Taxi Driver or Dirty Dancing or Wall Street there's an agenda. Sometimes it's provocative and against tradition.

[–] Zakredding 11 years ago

I think every film has a core message but I wouldn't say that every film has a hidden agenda as to why it was made, sometimes that message is enough. I have to say i am not a fan of using a film (especially one with such a weak plot and character development as this one) as a catalyst to push the writers quite frankly distorted ideals out to the masses.

[–] HighriseView 10 years ago

What distorted ideals? I don't think you understood this movie.