The Shrimp on the Barbie

Watch The Shrimp on the Barbie

"She's an ice-cool heiress. He's hot-to-trot. It's Desire Down Under!"
  • PG-13
  • 1990
  • 1 hr 27 min
  • 5.6  (1,485)

The Shrimp on the Barbie is a romantic comedy film from 1990. It stars Cheech Marin as Carlos, a Mexican American surfer, and Emma Samms as Alex, a wealthy Australian heiress. The film follows their romance as they navigate cultural differences and the disapproval of Alex's father, played by Vernon Wells. The movie opens with Carlos working as a waiter in a fancy restaurant in Beverly Hills. He is approached by Alex, who is looking for someone to teach her how to surf. Carlos is immediately smitten with Alex, but her father is less than impressed with Carlos' working-class background and Mexican heritage.

Despite Alex's father's disapproval, Carlos and Alex begin dating. They explore Los Angeles and Malibu together, with Carlos showing Alex around his favorite surf spots. However, their cultural differences begin to cause tension in their relationship. Alex is used to living a lavish lifestyle and doesn't understand why Carlos is content with living in a small apartment and pursuing his passion for surfing.

Things come to a head when Alex's father discovers that she is dating Carlos. He forbids her from seeing him and tries to convince her to break things off. Alex is torn between her love for Carlos and her loyalty to her father.

The movie is full of comedic moments, particularly when Carlos and Alex's father are on screen together. Their interactions are often tense, with Carlos trying to prove that he is a worthy match for Alex despite his lack of wealth and social status.

One of the highlights of the movie is the surfing scenes. The Shrimp on the Barbie was released during the height of the surf culture in the 1990s, and the movie captures the thrill and excitement of catching a wave. Cheech Marin, who is an avid surfer in real life, performed his own stunts in the movie.

Overall, The Shrimp on the Barbie is a fun and lighthearted romantic comedy that explores themes of cultural difference and social class. Cheech Marin and Emma Samms have great chemistry as Carlos and Alex, and Vernon Wells is perfectly cast as the disapproving father. Although the movie may feel a bit dated now, it's still an enjoyable watch for fans of '90s rom-coms.

The Shrimp on the Barbie is a 1990 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6.

The Shrimp on the Barbie
Description
Where to Watch The Shrimp on the Barbie
The Shrimp on the Barbie is available to watch free on Peacock, Plex, Tubi TV and Kanopy. It's also available to stream, download and buy on demand at Amazon Prime, FuboTV, Philo and Amazon. Some platforms allow you to rent The Shrimp on the Barbie for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1990
  • MPAA Rating
    PG-13
  • Runtime
    1 hr 27 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    5.6  (1,485)