GREETINGS FROM THE SHORE: DVD

SYNOPSIS:
Still reeling from the death of her father, teenager Jenny Chambers (Kim Shaw) spends one last summer at the Jersey Shore before heading off to college. Here, she stumbles into a mysterious world of Russian sailors working in the local yacht club as a cover for something much better paid, high-stakes gambling, and unexpected love with Benicio (David Fumero), while down on his luck fisherman Catch Turner (Paul Sorvino) takes her under his wing. But when her college plans fall apart, she is faced with an uncertain future.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:
There's a sweet tone throughout Greetings that endears us to the story and especially to Kim Shaw as the pretty Jenny, who has a promise to keep. Before her father died, she had promised to complete a college degree - which he never quite managed. So when she heads off to her final summer holiday before taking on Columbia Uni, she is excited and ready for the challenge. She returns to the seaside resort where she had spent so many happy childhood summers with her father and rest of the family; it was his special place.

Her old car breaks down, but there's Catch (Paul Sorvino) to fix it, like he always used to for her dad; and there's the yacht club where she can work part time teaching English to young foreigners working during the summer rush. That's where she meets handsome and artistic Benicio (David Fumero), who seems different to the rather surly bunch.

The story seems perfunctory at first, but soon develops some depth as the real story of the migrant workers and the club's selfish, greedy and nasty hearted Commodore (Jay O. Sanders) involvement is revealed. Then there's Catch's downbeat past, the bad news about Jenny's chance at college ... and things get serious.

Although sometimes simplistic, the screenplay keeps us engaged and the performances are tops, notably Paul Sorvino. Kim Shaw is effective as the vulnerable youngster and has good chemistry with David Fumero's Benicio. Easily watchable and readily enjoyable, Greetings is a fun cinematic escape.

Published June 25, 2009