Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- nostalgic
- lazy summer afternoon
- girls night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film charming and frequently funny, with its energetic young ensemble and carefully observed period atmosphere elevating a familiar teen nostalgia story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Carson, Melaina, Pudge, and Luanne use their Myrtle Beach weekend to negotiate loyalty, desire, and changing futures.
The Myrtle Beach setting, summer vacation, 1963 backdrop, and shag dance culture create a distinctly Southern teenage world.
The title's shag dance craze and the prominently praised dance sequence make movement central to the film's pleasures and character expression.
Carson's impending marriage frames the irresponsible final weekend and forces the friends to question romance and adulthood.
Films like Shag, and why
American Graffiti
teen coming-of-age nostalgia, youthful friendship, and period romance
Dirty Dancing
summer romance, dance culture, and female coming-of-age drama
Mystic Pizza
female friendship, romantic uncertainty, and ensemble coming-of-age storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Zelda Barron
- Release Date
- 1989-04-14
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (63)
Cast
- Phoebe Cates
- Scott Coffey
- Bridget Fonda
- Annabeth Gish
- Page Hannah
- Robert Rusler
- Tyrone Power Jr.
- Jeff Yagher
- Paul Lieber
- Donald Craig
Common questions
- What is Shag about?
- Four newly graduated Southern friends turn a carefree Myrtle Beach weekend into a funny, romantic reckoning with friendship and adulthood.
- What is Shag like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shag as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Shag violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Shag.
- What did critics think of Shag?
- Critics generally found the film charming and frequently funny, with its energetic young ensemble and carefully observed period atmosphere elevating a familiar teen nostalgia story.
- Which films are like Shag?
- Films with a similar feel include American Graffiti, Dirty Dancing, and Mystic Pizza.
- How long is Shag?
- Shag runs 98 minutes.
