Along for the Ride Parent Guide

With high school graduation behind her, Auden (Emma Pasarow) wants to leave her intense, socially awkward self behind before starting university in the fall. Hoping to break free of her buttoned-down persona, Auden decides to spend the summer with her father and stepmother in their beach town, working in a boutique and – hopefully – having the fun she missed in her teens.

Fun is elusive for the earnest 18-year-old and she soon finds herself reading novels on the pier late at night, where she meets Eli (Belmont Cameli), a fellow insomniac who fills his night hours with bike rides. A meet-cute brings them together, and Eli suggests Auden launch a Quest. Not a heroic endeavor; simply a quest to find the spontaneous, light-hearted fun she missed in her hyper-focused, analytical childhood. As they spend time together, Auden realizes that she’s not the only one who’s desperate to escape from the shadows of the past…

Along for the Ride is a good-hearted teen romance flick. The characters are sympathetic, the plot resolution takes some work but doesn’t require crushing levels of angst, and the low-key messages are positive without being preachy. Auden’s story arc includes themes of accepting yourself, trying new things, and fighting for family. Eli learns about courage and facing grief instead of running away. Both main characters benefit from the consistent friendship of those around them.

Thankfully, this production comes with comparatively mild levels of negative content. Sexual content is limited to kissing and extensive views of Ms. Pasarow’s cleavage in a low cut formal gown. Alcohol consumption is moderate (although since California’s drinking age is 21, several of the teens are underage). Profanity primarily consists of terms of deity, with a single sexual expletive.

Romance fans looking for overpowering emotion and heart-crushing angst won’t find it here. This is a movie for viewers who want to have some fun, watch a couple fall in love, and root for their happily-ever-after. Along for the Ride isn’t memorable, award-winning cinema, but it’s a good-natured summer love story. Teens (and adults) with a yen for some beachy romance can get out their lawn chairs and pour the lemonade. Just don’t make it too sweet: this movie manages to get the sweetness just about right and you don’t want to wreck the vibe with an over-sugared drink.