Zac Efron Struggles To Become A Man In New ‘Baywatch’ Movie
Image by Getty Images
What’s wrong with being a man right now?
Not much, unless you have conflicted feelings about wars (propagated now and ever mostly by men), murderers (the vast majority also male), and man buns (no further explanation required).
Zac Efron is here to change all this.
The 29-year old actor co-stars with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the new ‘Baywatch’ movie, out May 25th. Created by original ‘Baywatch’ writers Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz, the big-screen remake of the 90’s television classic features Efron as an Olympic medalist who turns to lifeguarding after an unfortunately televised vomit-related disgrace.
“In the big scheme of things there’s this opportunity to take a character that you think is based on this ‘Baywatch’ guy in the poster — this cocky, ripped, Olympic athlete douchebag,” Efron told a reporter for Australia’s News.com. The actor said the story appealed to him because he wanted audiences to see this character “go through a change in his life — a period in his life where he becomes a man.”
Efron cited examples of great men in the interview, including co-star Johnson, who plays Mitch Buchannon, the character who was originated by David Hasselhoff. “The only fault he could possibly have is he’s too great”, Efron said of Johnson, who also served as executive producer.
“I wanted to be made fun of and be everything that’s wrong with being man right now, and become a noble person in the end,” Efron said of his character, who is seen in the ‘Baywatch’ trailer doing shots, impersonating his own genitals, and of course, running in slow motion.
‘Baywatch’ reviews are currently coming in lower than the zippers on the female stars’ swimsuits, but the film might be worth a watch just to chart the continued rise of Efron’s unlikely comedy star.
Catch Efron’s muscles and movie chops in the ‘Baywatch’ movie trailer here:
Jenny Singer is a writer for the Forward. You can contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
