How to Stuff a Wild Bikini is one of the later installments in a series of teen films produced by American International Pictures that used a number of recurring cast members and themes, starting with Beach Party in 1963 and ending with Thunder Alley in 1967. Despite the negative reviews, I feel like this is one of the better installments in the series, and it made me laugh more than most of the other films. It was also directed by William Asher, the same man who directed some of the most beloved films in the series, like Beach Party and Beach Blanket Bingo.
Buster Keaton is adorable as Bwana, the witch doctor. This is my favorite role of his in the beach party universe. Harvey Lembeck's Eric Von Zipper may be starting to get a little old, but he still has a number of great gags, like the scene where he enters North Dakota Pete's club as "the boy next door." Speaking of North Dakota Pete, Len Lesser is hilarious in the role. Dwayne Hickman is charming, and Annette Funicello, who was pregnant during filming, radiates a sense of grace and maturity, something a little different from previous entries in the series.
Frankie Avalon's role is pleasantly more substantial than expected. Some have referred to it as a cameo, but his part is pretty important to the plot, and he gets enough screen time that it feels like a proper "Frankie & Annette" movie.
Overall, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini recycles the same formula from previous films in the AIP series, but still manages to provide new laughs. In my opinion, it is one of the better films in the series, sporting a fantastic motorcycle action sequence and amusing appearances by Mickey Rooney and Brian Donlevy.
Buster Keaton is adorable as Bwana, the witch doctor. This is my favorite role of his in the beach party universe. Harvey Lembeck's Eric Von Zipper may be starting to get a little old, but he still has a number of great gags, like the scene where he enters North Dakota Pete's club as "the boy next door." Speaking of North Dakota Pete, Len Lesser is hilarious in the role. Dwayne Hickman is charming, and Annette Funicello, who was pregnant during filming, radiates a sense of grace and maturity, something a little different from previous entries in the series.
Frankie Avalon's role is pleasantly more substantial than expected. Some have referred to it as a cameo, but his part is pretty important to the plot, and he gets enough screen time that it feels like a proper "Frankie & Annette" movie.
Overall, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini recycles the same formula from previous films in the AIP series, but still manages to provide new laughs. In my opinion, it is one of the better films in the series, sporting a fantastic motorcycle action sequence and amusing appearances by Mickey Rooney and Brian Donlevy.