The makers of Malibu Bikini Shop throw their intentions out there right from the get go. Then again, with a title like that how could you not? Yes, this flick is about a bikini shop and, yes, it's located on the beach of Malibu which writer-director David Wechter capitalizes on every chance he gets. Hell, even the opening credits are basically an excuse to ogle various girls in bikinis (which the camera does in loving close-up) while they dance about having a good old time. In other words, it's a pretty fun time.

Meet Alan (Michael David Wright), a generally straight-forward type of guy who's about to graduate with a degree in business from Northern Chicago University as well as getting married in a couple of months. Life, while drab, is good. But that's all about to change when he receives a telegram from California letting him know his Aunt has died and he's in the will.

Off he heads to the sunshine coast in order to put her things in order while dealing with his slacker brother Todd (Bruce Greenwood), deciding what to do with her expensive beachfront home, and also looking into selling her bikini shop. Taking things way too seriously, and being pressured by his finance, Alan soon learns its best if he loosens up a little and along with the help of Todd and the trio of attractive girls that work at the shop, that includes wannabe fashion designer (and object of Alan's crush) Ronnie (Barbara Horan), starts to enjoy his time down in Malibu even considering keeping the store.

This gives Wechter ample opportunity for lots of bare skin and harmless, if juvenile, humour that includes the sneaky use of a two-way mirror that backfires, a bit involving skid marked bikini bottoms, a "Sexiest Tan" competition that includes a whole lot of awkward dancing, and a harmless love interest angle between Alan and Ronnie.

Of course, this being a slight T&A flick needing a conclusion, Alan's soon-to-be-wife Jane (Debra Blee) shows up to ruin the fun trying to force him to sell the shop and return to Chicago. After selling it to a local businessman, Alan changes his mind and they have to rally together to sell enough of Ronnie's bikini designs to buy the store back which brings on a seemingly out-of-nowhere dance number mixed with photo shoot (that has two of our hot store employees in a prisoner of war like scenario) before a whole lot of obstacle course hijinks in the finale that includes some slo-mo and unstable clothing.

The kind of flick that wouldn't be out of place during late night television, Malibu Bikini Shop doesn't have any ambition to be anything more than a dopey comedy filled with hot semi-naked, or topless, girls and silly jokes. It's a harmless and good-natured time that's probably more entertaining than it has a right to be.

Wright, in one of his few movie roles, brings a geeky charm to Alan which balances well with Greenwood's party hungry Todd. Seeing veteran character actor Greenwood (Eight Below, Dinner for Schmucks) here was a surprise but he's a likeable goofball and seemed to be having a goodtime playing one. I swore I had seen Blee before and one look at her small resume confirmed her presence in Savage Streets and Hamburger: The Motion Picture. She's a bitchy diva here and steals most of the scenes she's part of. I also have to mention Glayn Gorg who's extremely cute as Cindy.

Much like slasher flicks were to the horror genre in the 80s, T&A sex comedies were a bustling trend in the first half of the decade. 1981's Porky's is given the credit for starting the influx and, as a male who enjoys naked skin and was hitting puberty around that time, I must thank Bob Clark and his Angel Beach high school boys for helping bestow such classics as Screwballs, Revenge of the Nerds, and Hot Dog... The Movie on us. And while Malibu Bikini Shop might not reach the level of those films it's still an engaging timewaster with enough amusing moments, nudity, and silly humour to make it easy to recommend to fans of this woefully under appreciated sub-genre. (Chris Hartley, 8/26/10)

Directed By: David Wechter.
Written By: David Wechter.

Starring: Michael David Wright, Bruce Greenwood, Barbara Horan, Debra Blee.