Aquamarine (2006 Film)



Aquamarine (2006 film) is a 2006 Australian-American Teen Fantasy Comedy Film, directed by American director Elizabeth Allen, and filmed in Queensland, Australia. The film stars Sara Paxton, Emma Roberts, and Jojo. It was made in both the United States and Australia, along with being released in North America on March 3rd, 2006.

Plot
Disclaimer: Contains Spoilers.

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Two teenage best friends, Hailey Rogers (Jojo) and Claire Brown (Emma Roberts), regret that they will be separated in five days, since Hailey has to move to Australia because of her mother's (Claudia Karvan) job. One night, after a violent storm, Hailey wishes for a miracle that will make her mother change her mind about moving. They find a mermaid named Aquamarine (Sara Paxton) in the swimming pool of their beach club. The girls are frightened at first, however, sooner become curious. They start to talk with Aquamarine and promise her they'll be back in the morning.

The next morning, Claire wakes up and hears a strange commotion down at the swimming pool where they left Aquamarine. Claire's grandparents Bob and Maggie (Roy Billing and Julia Blake) were clearing the pool because of the huge storm. Both Claire and Hailey quickly rush down to save Aquamarine but when they reach the pool, everything has been cleared. They hear noises by the nearby beach's snack shack and find a nude Aquamarine. The only difference with her appearance is that she has legs instead of a mermaid's tail. Aquamarine informs them she can develop human form on land during the day, only if she doesn't get wet. Claire and Hailey become friends with Aquamarine, who tells them that she came to land to find love, an idea she knows nothing about, but desires desperately.

She tells them that she made a deal with her father that if she can prove love is not a myth, she will not have to undergo an arranged marriage to a spoiled (unnamed) merman, but she only has three days to do it. She notices a handsome lifeguard named Raymond (Jake McDorman), whom Claire and Hailey have admired for a while, and enlists the help of the two girls to win his heart in return for granting their wish. The girls see their opportunity to keep Hailey from moving and quickly work on prepping Aquamarine on the how-tos of attracting a man. Their advice stems more from magazines than from any personal experience, and they soon realize that some things are easier said than done.

They go to carnival where Raymond and Aquamarine make a connection but are cut off when the sun sets. Then Claire and Hailey's rival - a spoiled, rich girl named Cecilia (Arielle Kebbel) pops up and goes to talk to Raymond.

The next day Aquamarine thinks about going back home. Hailey convinces Aquamarine into staying; while Claire went to go confront Raymond about Aquamarine. It is revealed that Cecilia lied to Raymond saying that the reason Aquamarine had to leave him early was because she was "dating" someone. Raymond then finds out that Cecilia lied. However, Cecilia then has her friend, Theo, attempt to throw Claire in the water (knowing Claire doesn't like water). Claire then leaves crying and Raymond chases after her. After the whole ordeal, he talks to Aquamarine and invites her to dinner at the Last Splash. That night at the dinner Aquamarine and Raymond make a wonderful connection. However, Cecilia tries to mess it up before Claire and Hailey stop her and make her run out of the restaurant in embarrassment. Before the dinner date ended, Aquamarine kisses Raymond and tells him to meet her at the pier at 9 o clock (when the sun was setting). After that Hailey drops Aquamarine at a water tower to spend the night. So, jealous Cecilia follows them and climbs up the water tower and sees Aquamarine. She knocks down the ladder and goes to tell her friends but nobody believes her.

The next day Cecilia tells her father, a newscaster, that she heard somebody screaming calling for help inside the water tower. After that, her father calls the station to cast the story. Meanwhile, Claire and Hailey have an argument after Hailey said they should change their wish to have her stay because her mother worked hard to get this far. But Claire said they are not changing the wish. Then Hailey said that's why she doesn't have any friends. Sadly, Claire turns on the TV where she sees the water tower on the news and she quickly runs to Hailey. When they arrive they see the firefighters at the top of the ladder they get scared but turns out it was only an inflatable dolphin.

After this, Cecilia's dad says turn the camera off but not before Cecilia said there was a mermaid in there. Her father gets mad causing him to cut off her driving privileges.

A compassionate caretaker, Leonard (Bruce Spence) rescues Aquamarine from public discovery and then she grants him a wish, after which he has a lovely relationship with Bonnie (Lulu McClatchy), his long-time crush. Afterward, Aquamarine meets Raymond at the pier where she asks him if he loves her, however he says it's only been a day but he really likes her. Disappointed, Aquamarine walks away but he catches up with her and talks with her. She says that it doesn't matter because he didn't love her. Interrupted by Cecilia, she pushes Aquamarine into the water where she turns into a mermaid and her dad tries to pull her back home. Hailey says she'll save Aquamarine then Claire stops her and tells her she is coming too. They hold hands and jump in.They meet up with Aquamarine and talk to her saying how her father can't do this but Aquamarine tells them he can because it was part of their deal.

Sad, Claire and Hailey give up their wishes to save Aquamarine, she asks them why would they do that for her, with them responding they that they love her. As a result, her dad lets her go. Aquamarine gives Hailey and Claire her starfish earrings and says they may be suck-ups but they never lie. Afterward, they say their last goodbyes then Raymond hops in and talks to Aquamarine saying he doesn't how to ask a mermaid out. Raymond and Aquamarine share a kiss and promise to meet again in the future. Raymond promises that he will wait for her in Fiji. Hailey and Claire obtain their wish from Aquamarine, but decide not to use it until later. Raymond catches up with them and says they are both pretty extraordinary and gives them kisses on the cheek. In the end of the film, the starfish earrings tell Hailey that she is beautiful inside and out and tell Claire that she is courageous and has a true heart. The trio say goodbye and promise to see each other soon.

Reception
Aquamarine received mixed to positive reviews; it currently holds a 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "A lighthearted, gum-smacking, boy-crazy film with a hopeful message for young girls." On Metacritic, which uses an average of critics' reviews, the film holds 51/100, indicating "mixed or average reviews."

Money Gross:
The film opened in the North American box office at #5 with $7,482,669; by the end of its domestic run, the film grossed $18,597,342 domestically and $23,006,849 worldwide.

The film was nominated for two Teen Choice Awards for "Choice Breakout (Female)" and ''"Choice Chick Flick." The film had one win for the Young Artist Awards.''

Soundtrack
"One Original Thing" – Cheyenne Kimball

"Strike" – Nikki Flores

"Connected" – Sara Paxton

"One and Only" – Teitur

"Right Now 2004" – Atomic Kitten

"Island in the Sun" – Emma Roberts

"Time for Me to Fly" – Nick Jonas

"Can't Behave" – Courtney Jaye

"Summertime Guys" – Nikki Cleary

"One Way or Another" – Mandy Moore

"Sweet Troubled Soul" – Stellastarr

"I Like the Way You Move" – Bodyrockers

Trivial Information

 * Fun Fact #1: Aquamarine is loosely based on a children's book with the same name by Alice Hoffman.
 * Fun Fact #2: In 2008, La La Land Records released a limited edition CD (1,000 pressings) of David Hirschfelder's score (incorporating the voice of Sara Paxton) for the film.