'The Lifeguard' trailer proves that pools are in this summer

Posted Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 5:01 PM Central
Last updated Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 5:02 PM Central

by John Couture

It's funny how you start to notice things after a while. A couple of months ago we noticed all of the coming of age films on the docket for this summer and with today's trailer for The Lifeguard, we just realized how big of a character swimming pools are playing in movies this summer too.

The Lifeguard joins The Way, Way Back (also featured in that earlier article) and the upcoming The To-Do List as films that feature swimming pools almost in a supporting character role. While the pools offer comic relief in those other films, it's pretty apparent that the pool is used in The Lifeguard for a more dramatic purpose.

In the film, Kristen Bell plays an almost 30-year-old woman who finds herself at an existential crossroad in her life. Instead of growing up, she decides to regress a bit and move back in with her parents and pick up where she left off in high school, complete with taking a job as a lifeguard for a condo complex.

The film has its fair share of laughs, but unlike other coming of age films it has a darker edge to it. In many ways, I think the film mirrors that of The Lie thematically and really hits home with the increasing number of young adults who are finding out that they really aren't ready to move on with their lives.

I think I'll save the rest of my review for the Project 52 story that will come out closer to its release. Suffice to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the film that debuted at Sundance earlier this year and will take a someone unconventional route to home entertainment. The Lifeguard will hit VOD on July 30 and then debut in theaters on August 30. As for DVD, you'll have to wait until October 8 to own it.