17.6 C
Byron Shire
July 10, 2026

Cinema Review : Baywatch

Latest News

Plastic not so fantastic

There is nothing healthier than drinking some water – or so I’ve always told my kids. It doesn’t contain sugar or colour additives – as one person used to tell us as children, ‘it’s sky juice’! What could be better?

Other News

Amani’s bite of the Big Apple

Although I was grateful that The Echo wrote an article about my daughter Amani Wiriyanjara being accepted into the...

Ballina king tide alert for 13–16 July

Ballina Shire Council is encouraging motorists to drive safely over the coming days with king tides leading to minor flooding of some local roads.

Three Blue Ducks

On Sunday 26 July, from 11:30am for both lunch and dinner, Three Blue Ducks will celebrate Christmas in July...

Community rallies behind beloved Byron local facing cancer battle

Locals are rallying behind beloved Byron local Krystal Pillwein after she was diagnosed with stage 2 inoperable cervical cancer, launching a fundraising campaign to help ease the financial burden of her treatment.

For your wellbeing

On Saturday, in Byron, they are holding a Psychic Health and Wellbeing Expo, at the Cavanbah Centre, Ewingsdale Road – this is a community-based event and all are welcome.

Protests over ALDI supply chain safety issues

Hundreds of transport workers are protesting nationally at Aldi stores as the Transport Workers' Union highlights dangerous practices in the supermarket’s transport supply chain, from lack of maintenance on vehicles to underpayments and worker injuries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrDMSpR1lMk

Lowbrow does not necessarily equate with bad. Which in this case is just as well, for the adaptation to the big screen of David Hasselhoff’s unfathomably successful TV series is about as lowbrow as it gets.

But there is a likeable foolishness about it and its two leading men, Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, combine well for what is essentially a fairly predictable buddy movie. The introductory scene, with the credits rolling, is wildly self-mocking, and it is followed by a very funny dick routine that leaves you in no doubt as to the tone of what will come in its wake. In fact, keeping abreast of the times, director Seth Gordon squeezes in more dick jokes than tit jokes, including one in which Zac Efron handles the penis of a cadaver. The Baywatch lifeguards, with Mitch (Johnson) as their guiding light, are conducting the annual recruitment test for new members when Matt Brody (Efron), an egotistical former Olympic champion now in disgrace after a bender led him to spew in the pool (‘the vomit comet’), arrives to join them as part of his rehab. Mitch and Matt don’t hit it off at all, but with a little tough love and contrition on Matt’s part, bridges will be built as the team unites to solve the mystery of who is smuggling meth into the Baywatch area.

The girls are sexy but shallow, the hipster soundtrack does not miss a beat in driving the action and Johnson displays impeccable timing in delivering some sharp one-liners. Less appealing is the level of violence that grows as the story’s crime component takes precedence – it is neither offensive nor graphic, but it does seem out of place in what should be a tongue-in-cheek romp. The beach itself simply cannot hold a candle to what we are familiar with in our Shire (location shots were in Florida and Georgia) and the bloopers aren’t worth waiting for. Hasselhoff makes an appearance, as does an almost lifelike Pamela Anderson, compared to whom Efron is as cute as a button.



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Ballina courthouse windows smashed, man charged

Police say a man will face court today, charged after 12 windows were allegedly smashed in Ballina last night.   Police say, 'About 10.35pm (Thursday 9 July 2026), police were called to Martin Street following reports of a man smashing windows'.

Alleged native tree removal continues in Lennox, says councillor

With a government agency now investigating the alleged clear felling of natives on a large private block in Lennox Head, Ballina Greens councillor Kiri Dicker has told The Echo that contractors were felling trees all morning, ‘trying to get the job done’.

Ocean Shores man charged with advocating terrorism online

Police say a 20-year-old Ocean Shores man is behind bars (refused bail) and will face court in Tweed Heads Local Court on 18 September, charged with advocating terrorism.  

Ballina king tide alert for 13–16 July

Ballina Shire Council is encouraging motorists to drive safely over the coming days with king tides leading to minor flooding of some local roads.