"It ain't nothin' without the stuffin'!" That's what all the groovy beach partyers say when a phantom bikini appears out of nowhere, and suddenly fills out its two-piece form with the voluptuous body of Cassandra (Beverly ... more »Adams), who soon has all the beach-hunks drooling. Along comes Madison Avenue adman "Peachy" Keane (Mickey Rooney) to recruit Cassandra for his "Girl Next Door" ad campaign, while his assistant Ricky (Dwayne Hickman) gets all googly-eyed for Dee Dee (Annette Funicello), who's not as easy as the other sand 'n' surf chickie-babies. And where's Frankie (Avalon)? He's on a tropical island with the navy reserve, sampling the comely native fauna and bribing the local medicine man Bwana (played by... Buster Keaton?!) with generous doses of alcoholic "torpedo juice" in return for a failsafe love potion. Oh, and did we mention the cross-country cycle race that will determine who's the fairest young couple in the land? The sixth installment of the seemingly endless Beach Party series, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini is a minor step up from Gilligan's Island, but you've got to love a movie that includes a mischievous pelican, an appearance by the Kingsmen (of "Louie Louie" fame), and a half-dozen forgettable pop songs that virtually define the beach-party genre. Comedy purists may lament the downward spiral of Buster Keaton's career, but he's just having good, dumb fun like everyone else, and geographic distance doesn't stop Frankie and Annette from crooning a split-screen duet. And dig those clay-animated opening credits by Gumby creator Art Clokey! Let's face it, these movies are perfect time capsules of juvenile entertainment, and if you can't enjoy them in all their cheesy glory, you're nothin' but a square! --Jeff Shannon« less
Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 09/27/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"HOW TO STUFF A WILD BIKINI was one of the last 'Beach Party' films to be released (and it was Annette Funicello's last appearance as Dee Dee). The fatigue is evident in this average - but no less enjoyable - outing.Frankie (Frankie Avalon) is serving his time in the Navy, and worried that some guy back home will steal Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) away from him. A grumpy old witchdoctor (Buster Keaton) conjures up the stunning red-headed Cassandra (Beverly Adams) to distract every self-respecting male on the Malibu Beach! However, down-to-earth Ricky (Dwayne Hickman) is immune to Cassandra's charms, and slowly starts courting Dee Dee...Then, the dumb-as-sticks Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck) and his "Rats" come back into town, to teach the others a thing or two...There are great cameo roles by Mickey Rooney, Brian Donlevy and Bobbi Shaw (repeating her role as Buster Keaton's dizzy sidekick).Annette Funicello was heavily pregnant with her first child at the time of making what was to be her last 'Beach Party' film. She wears obviously-baggy ponchos and blouses to cover up. You will also notice that she NEVER wears an actual swimsuit on the beach!!Also starring John Ashley, Jody McCrea, Patti Chandler and Mary Hughes.The DVD includes both full-frame and widescreen versions of the film as well as the trailer and a trivia booklet. (Double-sided, single-layer disc)."
Come on
Byron Kolln | 02/21/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I loved this movie.It was hillarous and great.Meet the characters-DeeDee,Frankie,the witch doctor and meet his daughter,Eric Bon Zipper,his gang,Peachy,Casondra,and the big beach party gang.Watch it and enjoy it."
Frankie And Annette And Samantha from Bewitched
Byron Kolln | 06/29/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Best scenes are Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello singing a song together and there is a good scene with Elizabeth Montgomery in her role of Samantha from Bewitched sending Frankie home to Annette who plays Dee Dee and also Annette singing songs.Although Frankie isn't in many scenes with Annette since his character is away he is in the story and Frankie does come home to Annette.If you like Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello and Elizabeth Montgomery and Bewitched then you would enjoy this.The scene with Elizabeth Montgomery in her role of Samantha from Bewitched makes this film more fun.Frankie and Annette are always good together and though they don't have many scenes together in the film it is a good film and they do have scenes together later in the film."
The Right Stuff
Mike King | Taunton, MA United States | 02/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Frankie Avalon was growing tired of the beach movies, and only agreed to appear in this film if he could get a starring vehicle of his own. In this movie, Frankie is a member of the naval reserve and stationed on a tropical island, thus limiting his screen time. Dwyane Hickman (Ricky) ably serves as a new love interest for Annette Funicello (Dee Dee). Their scenes together were reminiscent of the first beach movie, when boy meets girl, boy wants girl, but the girl is playing hard to get. Beverly Adams is the voluptuous redhead Cassandra, filling out the wild bikini very nicely, who magically appears to keep Ricky away from Dee Dee. Mickey Rooney is hilarious as Peachy Keane, the ad executive who wants to hire Cassandra to be the girl next door and to be Ricky's partner for their sponsored motorcycle race. The only problems are that Ricky wants Dee Dee to join him, and Cassandra is nervous and very clumsy around Ricky. However, there is a cyclist she feels very comfortable with.She takes a shine to Eric Von Zipper, played to perfection by Harvey Lembeck. He is an expert cyclist from his years of being the leader of the Rat Pack. He is more than happy to keep Cassandra away from Ricky and the bad influence of "them beach bums." When Dee Dee finds out that Frankie is playing around with a native girl, she decides to join Ricky for the motorcycle race. Since Cassandra has signed a contract with the ad agency, it's decided to pair her with Eric Von Zipper. Peachy decides that an image makeover is necessary. Thus, Eric trades in his leather outfit and chains for a gray business suit! This entry in the beach movie series shows off Eric Von Zipper to best effect. Despite the Rat Pack's best efforts at sabotage, Ricky and Dee Dee end up winning the motorcycle race. However, Dee Dee doesn't want to go on a cross country promotional tour. Frankie is magically reunited with Dee Dee on the beach for a happy ending. This is the last of the classic beach movies to have Frankie and Annette together, and also features the most musical numbers. As for the movie Frankie starred in shortly afterwards, it was entitled "Sergeant Deadhead." To give you an idea of how successful that was at the box office, "Sergeant Deadhead" has yet to be commercially released on video!"
Beach Blanket Bingo
Beverly Kaynes | San Francisco, CA | 10/17/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"And yet another chapter in the sunny adventures of Frankie and Dee Dee. This one has Frankie going off to war, and no. . . he won't be riding the waves while in combat. Actually, that wouldn't be too far-fetched for these beach movie spoofs. But alas, in all seriousness Frankie has a bigger problem than trying to find the perfect camouflage swim trunks to take with him. What will he do while apart from his favorite beach bunny? And will Dee Dee be faithful amongst all those suntanned surfers and Dwayne?! Of course! There's only one way to ensure that she remembers him until his tanless self returns: hire a witch-doctor to keep her under his thumb and away from. . . well you know who. The legendary comic Buster Keaton plays the witch-doctor in tow with a sea beauty, Cassandra, who not only captivates Dwayne (hurray for Frankie!), but also manages to captivate every other male as well. It turns out that Frankie's plan works. . . Dee Dee does remain faithful, but whether or not she will be happy to see him when he returns is a different story. Would you be happy if your best guy ruined your summer with his jealous antics? It becomes a blundering mess when all the attention is on the siren Cassandra, and yes, even the feared motorcycle gang joins in on Frankie's soiled plan. These movies may be silly, but who cares? I still find them to be very amusing and lighthearted! Although many of you will think they are too cheesy and inept, I still give this one a double-bubble rating!"