A family vacation revives an older beach identity while testing family bonds, marriage, and the survival of local surfing culture.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Ohio Discontent
The family lives in Ohio, far from its earlier beach life. Annette suppresses frustration through shopping while Bobby rebels against his parents.
Key Events
Ohio Family Routine — The family lives far from the beach while Bobby rebels against his conventional parents. Characters: Annette's Husband, BobbyLocation: Ohio
Shopping As Escape — Annette suppresses her frustrations through excessive shopping. Characters: Annette's HusbandLocation: Ohio
Vacation Decision — The family decides to take a vacation to Hawaii. Characters: Annette's Husband, BobbyLocation: Ohio
California Detour — The family stops in California to visit Sandi before continuing to Hawaii. Characters: Annette's Husband, Bobby, SandiLocation: California
Sandi's New Life — The family learns that Sandi has been living with the surfer Michael. Characters: Annette's Husband, Sandi, MichaelLocation: California
Missed Hawaii Flight — The family misses its flight to Hawaii after dealing with Sandi's situation. Characters: Annette's Husband, Bobby, Sandi, MichaelLocation: California airport
The California Detour
A planned Hawaiian vacation is interrupted by a stop in California to visit Sandi. Learning that Sandi lives with Michael causes the family to miss its flight.
Key Events
Missed Hawaii Flight — The family misses its flight to Hawaii after dealing with Sandi's situation. Characters: Annette's Husband, Bobby, Sandi, MichaelLocation: California airport
California Stay — The missed flight leads the family to remain in California. Characters: Annette's Husband, Bobby, Sandi, MichaelLocation: California
Old Beach Memories — The family reconnects with the old beach and its earlier culture. Characters: Annette's Husband, BobbyLocation: Old beach
Past Meets Present — The older beach world encounters a younger generation represented by Michael. Characters: Annette's Husband, Sandi, MichaelLocation: California beach
Family Tensions Rise — Bobby's rebellion and Sandi's independent life intensify family unease. Characters: Annette's Husband, Bobby, SandiLocation: California
Surfing Generations Unite — The younger surfers become part of the unfolding beach adventure. Characters: Michael, BobbyLocation: California beach
Old Waves Return
The family remains in California and reconnects with the old beach. The younger surfing generation draws the family back into its former culture.
Key Events
Surfing Generations Unite — The younger surfers become part of the unfolding beach adventure. Characters: Michael, BobbyLocation: California beach
Connie Appears — Connie enters the story as a source of romantic and marital tension. Characters: Annette's Husband, ConnieLocation: California
Marriage Under Strain — The father's dallying with Connie nearly damages his marriage to Annette. Characters: Annette's Husband, ConnieLocation: California
Beach Culture Threatened — Zed's gang threatens the local surfing culture shared by younger surfers. Characters: Michael, Sandi, ZedLocation: California beach
Punks Take Control — Zed leads beach punks against the established local beach culture. Characters: Michael, Sandi, ZedLocation: Old beach
Threats And Temptations
Connie's presence contributes to a marital crisis involving Annette. At the same time, Zed and his beach punks threaten the local surfing culture.
Key Events
Punks Take Control — Zed leads beach punks against the established local beach culture. Characters: Michael, Sandi, ZedLocation: Old beach
Family Reassessment — The California stay forces the family to confront changing identities and relationships. Characters: Annette's Husband, Bobby, SandiLocation: California
Old Champion Returns — The former beach leader works with younger surfers against Zed's threat. Characters: Annette's Husband, Michael, ZedLocation: California beach
The Beach Reclaimed
The former champion works with younger surfers to face Zed. He overcomes his fears, saves the beach, and reclaims his surfing title.
Key Events
Showdown With Zed — The beach community confronts Zed's gang in the decisive struggle for the beach. Characters: Annette's Husband, Michael, Sandi, ZedLocation: Old beach
Big Kahuna Triumphs — The former champion overcomes his fears, defeats the threat, and reclaims his surfing title. Characters: Annette's Husband, Michael, ZedLocation: Old beach
Beach And Marriage Saved — The beach is saved while the family completes its final beach adventure. Characters: Annette's Husband, Bobby, Sandi, MichaelLocation: California beach
Story Breakdown
Ohio Family Strain — The family begins far from the beach, with suppressed frustration and teenage rebellion shaping daily life.
Shopping As Coping — Annette uses excessive shopping to contain her dissatisfaction.
Bobby Rebels — Bobby rejects what he sees as his parents' square lifestyle.
Hawaiian Vacation Plan — The family plans a Hawaii vacation but chooses to stop in California first.
California Stopover — The family travels to California to visit Sandi.
Travel Disruption — The family misses its Hawaii flight after confronting Sandi's circumstances.
Sandi's Independence — Sandi's California life exposes a generational gap between the family and the younger beach culture.
Living With Michael — Sandi is living with Michael, a young surfer.
Family Disapproval — The family reacts strongly to Sandi's independent arrangement.
Beach Past Returns — Remaining in California allows the family to reconnect with old friends and the old beach.
Old Beach Haunts — The family returns to the beach associated with its earlier life.
Younger Surfers — Michael represents the new generation of beach culture.
Marriage In Jeopardy — Connie's involvement intensifies an already unstable emotional situation within the marriage.
Connie's Arrival — Connie becomes connected to the family's California crisis.
Annette's Anguish — The marital strain nearly destroys Annette's marriage.
Zed's Beach Threat — Zed leads beach punks who endanger the local surfing culture and its community.
Punk Gang Advances — Zed's gang threatens control of the local beach.
Surfing Community Resists — The younger surfers become part of the resistance to the threat.
Champion Reclaims Beach — The former beach leader faces his fears, works with younger surfers, and defeats the threat.
Final Beach Clash — The beach community confronts Zed and his gang.
Title And Beach Saved — The former champion reclaims his title and saves the beach.
Cowabunga! The surfing '60s ride into the new wave as Frankie and Annette star in this hip update of their old-time, good-time beach movies. With special appearances by Bob Denver, Tony Dow, Pee-Wee Herman, Jerry Mathers and other familiar faces. Frankie and Annette grow up and have kids in the midwest. They return to LA to visit their daughter who is shacked up with her boyfriend and tries to hide the fact. They begin to have marriage problems when Frankie runs into Connie, who has erected a shrine to him in her night club. Their punk son has joined up with the local surf toughs, and things all come to a head when the toughs challenge the good guys to a surfing duel
