I first saw this movie when I was stationed in Hawaii in the Navy in the early eighties. It's a simple little "put your brain on hold for an hour and a half" movie. Don't expect a lot of plot or a masterpiece, just a fun little "beach movie."
As for the town of Avila Beach, yes, most of it is gone. I found out where they filmed the movie, and I used to LOVE when I moved to Sacramento, and my National Guard unit would spend it's 2 week annual training in San Luis Obispo, (the classic Fremont Theater in town is used in the movie) because I could visit Avila. The Onion rings at the Old Custom House were the best!!! The restaurant was even advertised in the movie, (On the side of the taxi driving around town), and there where pictures of the filming of the movie on the walls. It was actually a customs house at one time.
When I heard that they were going to have to tear down the downtown strip due to the fuel leakage over the years, I was heartbroken. Fortunately, they were able to save and "store" two historic buildings, (The Avila Grocery and one other building), and put them back on the strip after the project, but the Custom house was too fragile to move, and they had to tear it down. Having a brand new restaurant with the same name is an insult to the old place. They should have just let it fade into memory. Now, Avila looks like any other generic California beach town.
Maybe that's why I love this movie so much, because it reminds me of the old funky town of Avila Beach that I (and so many of the locals) loved so much. I'm glad Hulu decided to put it up.
As for the town of Avila Beach, yes, most of it is gone. I found out where they filmed the movie, and I used to LOVE when I moved to Sacramento, and my National Guard unit would spend it's 2 week annual training in San Luis Obispo, (the classic Fremont Theater in town is used in the movie) because I could visit Avila. The Onion rings at the Old Custom House were the best!!! The restaurant was even advertised in the movie, (On the side of the taxi driving around town), and there where pictures of the filming of the movie on the walls. It was actually a customs house at one time.
When I heard that they were going to have to tear down the downtown strip due to the fuel leakage over the years, I was heartbroken. Fortunately, they were able to save and "store" two historic buildings, (The Avila Grocery and one other building), and put them back on the strip after the project, but the Custom house was too fragile to move, and they had to tear it down. Having a brand new restaurant with the same name is an insult to the old place. They should have just let it fade into memory. Now, Avila looks like any other generic California beach town.
Maybe that's why I love this movie so much, because it reminds me of the old funky town of Avila Beach that I (and so many of the locals) loved so much. I'm glad Hulu decided to put it up.