okay and no one will ever put this movie alongside the godfather or citizen kane in the pantheon of great movie ( at least i hope not ) . and maybe it wasn not even realistic about teen life in 1959. but a entertainment this be sure a lot good than score of movie ( think waterworld or ishtar ) that believe they be a good way for people to spend a couple hour of their life . gidget may not aim high but it hit the exact spot it be aim for . with a daughter about to turn 21 and i sure wish girl spend their teenage year interact with boy the way gidget do . never worry about drug or alcohol and know not to let boy take advantage of her . listening to the four prep instead of that damn rap music today . sandra dee do a great job of play a teenager ( which shouldn not have be a stretch for her in 1959 unlike james darren or the other surfer ) . she do a great job of act like she really on a real surfboard in those rear projection shot . i mean and i be sure gidget and moondoggie could surf a few foot from each other all the while give meaningful glance at each other . and while arthur oconnell do a good job a her father and i have never be able to picture him a anything other than a determined bachelor after his role in picnic . so if you have a couple of hour that you just want to veg out on the couch and give your brain a rest and you could do a lot bad than spend it with gidget . rip sandra .