Aquamarine (film)
Encyclopedia
Aquamarine is a 2006 Australian-American teen fantasy
comedy
film
starring Sara Paxton
, Emma Roberts
, and Joanna "JoJo" Levesque (in her film debut). The film, which was made in both the United States and Australia, was released in North America
on March 3, 2006. The film, loosely based on a children's book on the same name
by Alice Hoffman
, and directed by American director Elizabeth Allen
was filmed in Queensland
, Australia
.
), 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, and so they find a mermaid
named Aquamarine (Sara Paxton
) in the swimming pool of their beach club. The girls are frightened at first, but then curious. They start to talk with Aquamarine and promise her they will be back in the morning.
The next morning, Claire wakes up and hears a commotion down at the swimming pool where they left Aquamarine. Claire's grandparents (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 is that she has legs instead of a mermaid's tail. Aquamarine tells them she can assume human form on land during the day if she does not 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 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-to
s of attracting a man. These self-educated relationship experts, having gained all their knowledge from reading magazines every day and often quote them, soon realize it's a lot easier said than done.
Claire and Hailey's rival - a spoiled, rich girl named Cecilia (Arielle Kebbel
) - tries her best to stop them, but ultimately fails. Also prominent is an eccentric, compassion
ate caretaker, Leonard (Bruce Spence
), who rescues Aquamarine from public discovery and then Aqua grants him a wish; he now has a lovely relationship with Beth (Dichen Lachman
), his long-time crush. Eventually, it is not Raymond that convinces Aquamarine that humans can love, but Claire and Hailey, who are willing to give up their wish and their lives in the aiding of a friend. Raymond and Aquamarine share a kiss and promise to meet up again in the future, Raymond promises he'll wait for her. Hailey and Claire get their wish from Aquamarine, but decide not to use it until later. Aquamarine gives both Hailey and Claire a starfish earring, which tell Hailey she is beautiful inside and out, and Claire is courageous and has a true heart. Aquamarine says that they can always call her on her shell phone.
, 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".
The film opened in the North American box office at #5 with $7,482,669; by the end of its domestic run, the film had grossed $18,597,342 domestically and $23,006,849 worldwide. On a $12 million budget, this can be considered a success.
The film was nominated for two Teen Choice Awards
for "Choice Breakout (Female)" and "Choice Chick Flick" and two nominations and one win for the Young Artist Awards.
In 2008, La La Land Records released a limited edition CD (1000 pressings) of David Hirschfelder
's score (incorporating the voice of Sara Paxton) for the film.
Other songs featured in the film
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
starring Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
, Emma Roberts
Emma Roberts
Emma Rose Roberts is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts. Roberts became known for her role as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous. She released her debut album, which also served as the show's...
, and Joanna "JoJo" Levesque (in her film debut). The film, which was made in both the United States and Australia, was released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on March 3, 2006. The film, loosely based on a children's book on the same name
Aquamarine (novel)
Aquamarine is a novel by Alice Hoffman, published in April 2001. A film adaptation was released in 2006, although the plot of the film bears little resemblance to that of the book.-Plot summary:...
by Alice Hoffman
Alice Hoffman
Alice Hoffman is an American novelist and young-adult and children's writer, best known for her 1996 novel Practical Magic, which was adapted for a 1998 film of the same name...
, and directed by American director Elizabeth Allen
Elizabeth Allen (director)
Elizabeth Allen is an American director. Allen made her feature film directorial debut with Aquamarine, Fox 2000’s 2006 mermaid movie starring Sara Paxton and Emma Roberts...
was filmed in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Plot
Two teenage friends, Hailey Rogers (JoJo) and Claire Brown (Emma RobertsEmma Roberts
Emma Rose Roberts is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts. Roberts became known for her role as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous. She released her debut album, which also served as the show's...
), regret that they will be separated in five days, since Hailey has to move to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
because of her mother's (Claudia Karvan
Claudia Karvan
Claudia Karvan is an Australian actress popular for her roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way. She is also a producer and writer on Love My Way. She currently stars in the drama series Spirited...
) job. One night, after a violent storm, Hailey wishes for a miracle that will make her mother change her mind about moving, and so they find a mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
named Aquamarine (Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
) in the swimming pool of their beach club. The girls are frightened at first, but then curious. They start to talk with Aquamarine and promise her they will be back in the morning.
The next morning, Claire wakes up and hears a commotion down at the swimming pool where they left Aquamarine. Claire's grandparents (Roy Billing
Roy Billing
Roy Billing is a New Zealand television actor, now based in Sydney, Australia.-Career:Billing has starred in many television shows and had main roles on Bad Cop, Bad Cop, Dossa and Joe and Hell Has Harbour Views...
and Julia Blake
Julia Blake
Julia Blake is a British-born actress based in Australia.Blake was born in London, England. She is married to Terry Norris. She is the mother of actresses Sarah and Jane Norris....
) 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 is that she has legs instead of a mermaid's tail. Aquamarine tells them she can assume human form on land during the day if she does not 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
Arranged marriage
An arranged marriage is a practice in which someone other than the couple getting married makes the selection of the persons to be wed, meanwhile curtailing or avoiding the process of courtship. Such marriages had deep roots in royal and aristocratic families around the world...
to a spoiled merman, but she only has three days to do it. She notices a handsome lifeguard named Raymond (Jake McDorman
Jake McDorman
Jake McDorman is an American film and television actor who is best known for playing Evan Chambers on the ABC Family TV Series Greek.-Early life:...
), 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-to
How-to
A how-to or a how to is an informal, often short, description of how to accomplish some specific task. A how-to is usually meant to help non-experts, may leave out details that are only important to experts, and may also be greatly simplified from an overall discussion of the topic...
s of attracting a man. These self-educated relationship experts, having gained all their knowledge from reading magazines every day and often quote them, soon realize it's a lot easier said than done.
Claire and Hailey's rival - a spoiled, rich girl named Cecilia (Arielle Kebbel
Arielle Kebbel
Arielle Caroline Kebbel is an American model and actress. Arielle is perhaps best known for her roles in films such as American Pie Presents: Band Camp, John Tucker Must Die, Vampires Suck, and Aquamarine, as well as TV series including The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, and Life Unexpected, on...
) - tries her best to stop them, but ultimately fails. Also prominent is an eccentric, compassion
Compassion
Compassion is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism — foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.There is an aspect of...
ate caretaker, Leonard (Bruce Spence
Bruce Spence
Bruce Spence, born September 17, 1945 is an actor, having spent most of his career performing in Australia. Bruce attended Henderson High School in West Auckland....
), who rescues Aquamarine from public discovery and then Aqua grants him a wish; he now has a lovely relationship with Beth (Dichen Lachman
Dichen Lachman
Dichen Lachman is an Australian actress. She is best known for appearing in the soap opera Neighbours as Katya Kinski and Joss Whedon's science fiction drama television series Dollhouse as Sierra...
), his long-time crush. Eventually, it is not Raymond that convinces Aquamarine that humans can love, but Claire and Hailey, who are willing to give up their wish and their lives in the aiding of a friend. Raymond and Aquamarine share a kiss and promise to meet up again in the future, Raymond promises he'll wait for her. Hailey and Claire get their wish from Aquamarine, but decide not to use it until later. Aquamarine gives both Hailey and Claire a starfish earring, which tell Hailey she is beautiful inside and out, and Claire is courageous and has a true heart. Aquamarine says that they can always call her on her shell phone.
Cast
- Sara PaxtonSara PaxtonSara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
as Aquamarine - Emma RobertsEmma RobertsEmma Rose Roberts is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts. Roberts became known for her role as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous. She released her debut album, which also served as the show's...
as Claire Brown - Joanna Levesque as Hailey Rogers
- Jake McDormanJake McDormanJake McDorman is an American film and television actor who is best known for playing Evan Chambers on the ABC Family TV Series Greek.-Early life:...
as Raymond - Arielle KebbelArielle KebbelArielle Caroline Kebbel is an American model and actress. Arielle is perhaps best known for her roles in films such as American Pie Presents: Band Camp, John Tucker Must Die, Vampires Suck, and Aquamarine, as well as TV series including The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, and Life Unexpected, on...
as Cecilia Banks - Claudia KarvanClaudia KarvanClaudia Karvan is an Australian actress popular for her roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way. She is also a producer and writer on Love My Way. She currently stars in the drama series Spirited...
as Ginny Rogers - Bruce SpenceBruce SpenceBruce Spence, born September 17, 1945 is an actor, having spent most of his career performing in Australia. Bruce attended Henderson High School in West Auckland....
as Leonard - Tammin SursokTammin SursokTammin Pamela Sursok is an Australian actress and musician of South African origin. She is best known for the role of Dani Sutherland on Home and Away, as Colleen Carlton on The Young and the Restless and as Siena in Disney Channel's Hannah Montana...
as Marjorie - Roy BillingRoy BillingRoy Billing is a New Zealand television actor, now based in Sydney, Australia.-Career:Billing has starred in many television shows and had main roles on Bad Cop, Bad Cop, Dossa and Joe and Hell Has Harbour Views...
as Grandpa Bob - Julia BlakeJulia BlakeJulia Blake is a British-born actress based in Australia.Blake was born in London, England. She is married to Terry Norris. She is the mother of actresses Sarah and Jane Norris....
as Grandma Maggie - Shaun MicallefShaun MicallefShaun Patrick Micallef is an Australian actor, comedian and writer. After ten years of working in insurance law as a solicitor in Adelaide, Micallef moved to Melbourne to pursue a full-time comedy career in 1993...
as Storm Banks - Lulu McClatchyLulu McClatchyLulu McClatchy is an Australian actress and comedian. She started to write and perform her own shows at the Edinburgh Festival. She created the comedy show Supergirly and went on to present a slot on Live & Kicking. She also performed in her own sitcom, as well as performing with Elton John in the...
as Bonnie - Natasha Cunningham as Patty
- Dichen LachmanDichen LachmanDichen Lachman is an Australian actress. She is best known for appearing in the soap opera Neighbours as Katya Kinski and Joss Whedon's science fiction drama television series Dollhouse as Sierra...
as Beth - Lincoln LewisLincoln LewisLincoln Clay Lewis is an Australian actor. He is best known for playing the role of Geoff Campbell in the Australian television series, Home and Away from 2007 to 2010, and Kevin Holmes in the film Tomorrow, When the War Began....
as Theo - Julia BlakeJulia BlakeJulia Blake is a British-born actress based in Australia.Blake was born in London, England. She is married to Terry Norris. She is the mother of actresses Sarah and Jane Norris....
as Jessica
Reception
Aquamarine received mixed to positive reviews; it currently holds a 52% rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, with the consensus "A lighthearted, gum-smacking, boy-crazy film with a hopeful message for young girls." On Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which uses an average of critics' reviews, the film holds 51/100, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
The film opened in the North American box office at #5 with $7,482,669; by the end of its domestic run, the film had grossed $18,597,342 domestically and $23,006,849 worldwide. On a $12 million budget, this can be considered a success.
The film was nominated for two Teen Choice Awards
Teen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
for "Choice Breakout (Female)" and "Choice Chick Flick" and two nominations and one win for the Young Artist Awards.
Soundtrack
- "One Original Thing" - Cheyenne KimballCheyenne KimballCheyenne Nichole Kimball is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Her debut album, The Day Has Come was released in July 2006 coinciding with an MTV reality series following her entry into the music industry...
- "Strike" - Nikki FloresNikki FloresNikki Flores is an American R&B and pop singer, pianist, and songwriter.-Career:A prodigious singer/songwriter in the vein of Alicia Keys, 16 year-old Nikki Flores was planned release her debut album, the pop meets R&B flavored "This Girl" in Fall 2005...
- "Connected" = Sara PaxtonSara PaxtonSara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
- "Gentleman" - Teddy GeigerTeddy Geiger-Singles:-Album appearances:-Television and movie appearances:-External links:****...
- "One and Only" - TeiturTeitur LassenTeitur is a Faroese singer-songwriter. On 3 March 2007, he was awarded Best Male Singer at the Danish Music Awards.The word teitur is Old Norse and means happy. In Modern Faroese, it is archaic but used as a male given name....
- "Right Now 2004Right Now (Atomic Kitten album)Right Now is the first album by Atomic Kitten and features the hit singles "Right Now", "See Ya", "I Want Your Love", "Follow Me" and "Whole Again". It was the first and last album to feature original member Kerry Katona.-Album information:...
" - Atomic KittenAtomic KittenAtomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost... - "Island in the Sun" - WeezerWeezerWeezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
- "Time for Me to Fly" - Jonas BrothersJonas BrothersThe Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
- "Can't Behave" - Courtney JayeCourtney Jaye- Biography :Courtney Jaye was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, when she was a freshman in high school. It was at this time she discovered The Grateful Dead and Neil Young, and also began to play the guitar. After becoming immersed in the bohemian culture, she...
- "Summertime Guys" - Nikki ClearyNikki ClearyBrittney Rose "Nikki" Cleary is a pop-rock singer who was born in Albany, New York.Cleary first hit the pop market with the catchy song "I.M. Me" while still using her given name. Her debut album, Everything I Wished For, was released independently under the Free Falls record label in 2002 after...
- "One Way or AnotherOne Way or Another"One Way or Another" is a song by American New Wave band Blondie.-Song information:Written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison for the band's third studio album, Parallel Lines , the song was inspired by one of Harry's ex-boyfriends who stalked her after their break up. The song was released as a...
" - Mandy MooreMandy MooreAmanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore is an American singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Moore became famous as a teenager in the late 1990s, after the release of her teen pop albums So Real, I Wanna Be with You, and Mandy Moore. In 2007, she took an adult pop-folk direction with the release of... - "Sweet Troubled Soul" - Stellastarr
- "I Like the Way You MoveI Like the Way (You Move)This page is about the Bodyrockers song. For the song by Outkast, see The Way You Move"I Like the Way" is a single by Australian Kaz James and Briton Dylan Burns, collectively known as the dance music group BodyRockers. It was released in April 2005 and later appeared on the group's self-titled...
" - BodyrockersBodyRockersBodyRockers were an electronic music act, consisting of Dylan Burns and Kaz James. They are best known for their 2005 single, "I Like the Way".-Background:...
In 2008, La La Land Records released a limited edition CD (1000 pressings) of David Hirschfelder
David Hirschfelder
David Hirschfelder is an Australian film score composer and performer.Hirschfelder was born and raised in Ballarat, Victoria....
's score (incorporating the voice of Sara Paxton) for the film.
- "Main Titles"
- "The Storm"
- "Washed Ashore"
- "Claire Falls In"
- "Meeting Aqua"
- "The Next Morning/Shell Phone Call"
- "Making the Deal"
- "Ray & Aqua/Magazines"
- "Paddleboat Date"
- "The Water Tower"
- "Hailey Rides the Dolphins"
- "Aqua’s Decision"
- "First Kiss"
- "Cecilia Climbs the Tower"
- "Hailey and Claire Argue"
- "The Pier/Storm/The Buoy"
- "The Tear/Goodbyes"
- "Finale"
Other songs featured in the film
- "A Comer Chicharron (Guaracha)" - Charanga Cubana
- "City Girls Jr." - Simon Leadley
- "Control Me" - The A Team
- "Dejenme Vivir" - Charanga Cubana
- "Don't Cry Baby" - Alana Dafonseca
- "Drive Me Crazy" - - Miss Eighty 6Sarai (rapper)Sarai Marie Howard is a female rapper.-Early life:Born and raised in upstate New York, Sarai Howard didn't exactly imagine herself as a rapper. While her single mother played Fleetwood Mac records, Sarai's older brother exposed his kid sister to the heavy, hard-knock world of hip-hop. Seminal...
- "I Rock Hard" - Miss Eighty 6Sarai (rapper)Sarai Marie Howard is a female rapper.-Early life:Born and raised in upstate New York, Sarai Howard didn't exactly imagine herself as a rapper. While her single mother played Fleetwood Mac records, Sarai's older brother exposed his kid sister to the heavy, hard-knock world of hip-hop. Seminal...
- "Island in the Sun" - WeezerWeezerWeezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
- "Big Wave - Pearl JamPearl JamPearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
- "Underground" - PuretoneJosh G. AbrahamsJosh G. "Puretone" Abrahams is an Australian musician who emerged from the underground dance-music scene in the early 1990s...
- "Smile" - Vitamin C (artist)Vitamin C (artist)Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick is an American pop music singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress better known by her stage name, Vitamin C. Her singles include "Graduation ", "As Long As You're Loving Me", "The Itch", and her most successful hit the Top 20 Gold certified "Smile"...