Blu-ray Review – Lifeguard

1976's "Lifeguard" visits Californian beach life for some fun under the sun…and an early midlife crisis. Screenwriter Ron Koslow examines the heart of a seasoned lifeguard as he confronts the reality of his employment and life choices, aiming to cut a little deeper when it comes to a character study of a man in professional and personal turmoil. Director Daniel Petrie ("Fort Apache, The Bronx," "A Raisin in the Sun," "Cocoon: The Return") is clearly fighting to preserve a more meaningful examination of doubt, but there's always time for a little goofiness in the endeavor, which keeps introducing high jinks involving the crazy people out to enjoy the water (and participate in some crimes), though the material never quite commits to the silliness. "Lifeguard" is uneven at times, but when it attempts to grasp the struggles of the main character and his emotional battles, it finds interesting places to go, boosted by fine acting from star Sam Elliott, who really captures the push and pull of a guy living a breezy life until the day his age catches up with him. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com