Dune buggies, surfers, and bikinis, oh my! I'd say "no wonder this didn't get picked up as a regular TV series," but then, one needs only to glance at the concepts that do get made into enduring series of some length, and maybe it's easier to wonder how this TV movie stands alone. In retrospect forty years on this might stand more as a curiosity, but one can see how it does bear a cheeky, lighthearted, and outright cheesy kinship with like fare of the 70s and 80s, the sort that takes an idea and just runs with it for however many episodes it gets. Maybe even more to the point, forty years on the chief attraction here may be a young Jonathan Frakes in an early role preceding 'Star Trek: The next generation.' It's safe to say 'Beach Patrol' falls short of an essential watch, but if one does stumble onto it, it's a decent enough way to spend one's time, and is ultimately more enjoyable than one may assume.
The contrivances of the overall scenario are as plain as can be, including not just the department's vehicle of choice but the bits and pieces that get tacked onto the chief plot (every episode of a TV show needs at least two or three story threads, of course), plot development that feels a little forced, and some of the camerawork. Some instances of light humor are all too kitschy or otherwise fall short. The picture can also claim some real wit at points, though, earning some laughs; while the action sequences aren't necessarily anything to "write home about," as it were, they are executed well with excellent stunts and suitable excitement and energy. Bob Kelljan's direction and Archie R. Dalzell's cinematography are generally capable, and in some instances plainly terrific; this benefits from capable production design, costume design, and hair and makeup, not to mention fetching filming locations.
The writing isn't particularly special, but let's give credit where it's due, because Ronald Austin, James D. Buchanan, and Rick Edelstein penned a screenplay that's duly entertaining and engaging. If familiar, the story is compelling, even with the secondary threads that are tacked on. Characters are given fun personality, albeit not necessarily enough to especially set them apart. The scene writing might be most sturdy of all as it comes in varying flavors and propels the narrative, and some ideas herein are rather admirable; the climax is definitely a key highlight. And for what it's worth I think the cast also do a fine job; naturally I'm predisposed to liking Frakes, but Christine DeLisle, Michael Gregory, Robin Strand, and Rick Hill all also illustrate splendid skill and versatility that would mark them as a swell casting choice for most any production.
No, 'Beach Patrol' isn't a major must-see, but it only wants to give viewers a good time, and I think it does so quite well. I'm actually pleasantly surprised by how good this is, if I'm being honest; I didn't have high expectations, but appreciable skill, intelligence, and care went into this TV movie. Some big studio productions of Hollywood can't manage to keep viewers as invested as this does, and for whatever commonness and well-trodden traits the feature shares with other small screen programming, the intent is earnest and the effort is commendable, with delightful results. It's nothing one needs to go out of their way to see, yet at length I rather like it when at the outset I hadn't supposed I'd think much of it. Whether one is a fan of those involved or just keen on similar titles, or maybe just looking for something light and uninvolved, 'Beach Patrol' is tasty enough to sate one's hunger, and sometimes that's all a film needs to be.
