More like Bae-watch! The Rock & Zac Efron protect freedom in ‘BAYWATCH’ #SuperBowl ad

Courtney Howard // Film Critic

I missed out on the whole hullabaloo that was 90’s TV series BAYWATCH. Running from 1991 to 2001, the decade long run spanned 242 episodes and never sat down to watch a single one of them. I’m not bragging about this- I’m lamenting I never experienced it as I should’ve. I know some of the inside jokes (those about their skimpy suits and predilection for running in slo-mo) and the stars whose careers were made huge from the show (like David Hasselhoff, Yasmine Bleeth, Pamela Anderson, David Charvet and Nicole Eggert). I guess I get a second chance of sorts with the cinematic iteration based on the series.

Take a look at the beefcake in the film’s “Big Game” day ad.

With a story by Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (RENO 911) and director Seth Gordon (HORRIBLE BOSSES, IDENTITY THIEF), intentional (rather than the series’ unintentional) comedy will take center stage.

Here’s the official logline:

“BAYWATCH” follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Zac Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

BAYWATCH opens on May 26.