Ricardo Hurtado
Tyler
Overview
It’s summer again, and everyone’s favorite Junior Rescuers, The Flounders, are back at Tower 2. With the International Junior Rescue Championships headed to Southern California, the eyes of the entire planet are on Malibu Beach. But when Team USA falls victim to a bout of food poisoning, it’s up to Tyler, Dylan, Eric, Lizzie and Gina to represent their country in the world's most extreme lifeguard challenge!
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Lifeguard’s Handbook: Why Malibu Rescue: The Next Wave Feels Like Homework You Actually Want to Do
I’ll admit it: I went into Malibu Rescue: The Next Wave expecting to hate it. Not in a so-bad-it’s-good way, but in the way you dread a pop quiz on a book you only skimmed. The kind of dread that settles in your stomach when you realize you’re about to spend 70 minutes with a movie that exists solely because Netflix needed another inch of algorithm-friendly content.
And yet—here’s the thing—I didn’t hate it. I didn’t even dislike it. I just… watched it.
Like a kid who’s been told to clean their room but ends up organizing their action figures instead. It wasn’t deep. It wasn’t groundbreaking.
But it was there, and sometimes, that’s enough.
Savage Steve Holland, the director, has made a career out of this kind of thing. You might not know his name, but you know his work: Better Off Dead, One Crazy Summer, that one episode of Community where Abed and Troy build a blanket fort. His films are like comfort food—familiar, a little greasy, and best enjoyed when you’re not in the mood to think too hard. The Next Wave is no different.
It’s a sports movie, a teen comedy, and a sequel all rolled into one, and it hits every beat with the precision of a metronome. The Flounders, our plucky underdog lifeguards, are back at Tower 2, and this time, they’re representing the U.S. in an international competition after the real Team USA gets food poisoning. (Because of course they do.
This is a movie where the stakes are high, but the consequences are about as serious as a sunburn.)
The plot is so predictable it might as well come with a GPS. There’s the training montage (complete with a dummy that looks like it was borrowed from a haunted house), the inevitable moment when the team fractures over ego or miscommunication, and the big finale where they pull together in a way that feels less like a triumph and more like the natural conclusion of a math equation.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.2/10
"A lighthearted, family-friendly comedy with fun beachside antics but little depth or originality."
Viewers appreciate the movie’s cheerful tone and kid-friendly humor, making it an easy watch for younger audiences. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, the predictable plot and lack of standout moments leave older viewers wanting more substance or creativity.
What viewers praise
- Fun for kids The movie’s playful energy and beach-themed adventures resonate well with younger audiences.
- Lighthearted tone The cheerful and upbeat atmosphere makes it a relaxing watch for families.
- Cast chemistry The young cast’s interactions feel natural and add to the movie’s charm.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows familiar tropes without adding anything new or surprising.
- Lacks depth Older viewers find the humor and storyline too simplistic for broader appeal.
- Short runtime The 70-minute duration feels rushed and leaves little room for character development.
Recommended for
Family movie nights Young comedy fans Beach adventure lovers Netflix After School viewers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Malibu Rescue: The Next Wave: Netflix’s Splashy Sequel
Malibu Rescue: The Next Wave (2020) brought back the sun-soaked chaos of the original film, this time with higher stakes and a few new twists. Directed by Savage Steve Holland—best known for his cult 1980s teen comedies like Better Off Dead—the sequel leaned into the same mix of slapstick humor, beachside action, latestnetflix.com maintains, and underdog charm that made the first movie a hit with younger audiences. But what really went down behind the scenes?
A Familiar Cast, New Challenges
The core cast returned, with Ricardo Hurtado, Breanna Yde, and Alkoya Brunson reprising their roles as the misfit lifeguard trainees. Jackie R. Jacobson, Abby Donnelly, and JT Neal also returned, keeping the dynamic of the original intact 
. However, the sequel introduced new faces, including Jeremy Howard and Curtis Armstrong, hinting at fresh comedic energy .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL2vhKjyl2o
One of the most talked-about moments wasn’t in the script—at least not initially. A clip from the film, titled "Dylan kisses Tyler," went viral, showing a same-sex kiss between two young characters . While the scene was brief, it sparked conversations about LGBTQ+ representation in family-friendly content, though Netflix and the filmmakers never officially commented on its significance.
Behind-the-Scenes Bloopers and Fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XMSVpqA8LM
The cast clearly had a blast filming, judging by the behind-the-scenes footage released by Netflix. A video titled "Behind The Scenes And Funny Moments" showcased the young actors goofing off between takes, with Hurtado and Yde playfully ribbing each other . The lighthearted vibe suggests Holland kept the set loose, a hallmark of his directing style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpSZLx7qeNE
Rumors swirled about on-set pranks, though nothing was confirmed. One YouTube video teased "The First Time I Got In Trouble?!" with the cast, implying some mischief—whether real or staged for content . Without official confirmation, it’s hard to separate fact from promotional fluff, but the cast’s chemistry was undeniable.
A Quick Shoot, Mixed Reception
Like its predecessor, The Next Wave was a brisk 70-minute affair, sticking to the fast-paced, family-friendly formula . Critics and audiences were divided—some praised its energy and inclusivity, while others dismissed it as forgettable fluff. SensCritique gave it a lukewarm 3.1/10, though the sample size was small . Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score for the franchise remained unremarkable, suggesting the films were more of a streaming filler than a critical darling .
The Future of the Franchise
Despite the mixed reception, The Next Wave didn’t rule out further sequels. The cast’s social media activity and Netflix’s tendency to greenlight follow-ups kept speculation alive. However, as of now, no official announcements have been made, leaving fans to wonder if the lifeguards will ride another wave.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.