Rip Tide (2017)

Rip Tide has a rare, restorative charm: it’s the kind of family drama that doesn’t shout its lessons, it lets them wash over you like sea air, carried on gorgeous Australian coastal scenery and sunlit cinematography. Watching Cora step away from the noise of a fashion-world stumble and into a quieter place becomes a gentle, feel-good invitation to rethink who you are when nobody’s applauding or judging. The film’s pleasures are simple but sincere—warm performances, an easygoing vibe, and an inspiring thread of self-discovery that lands without cynicism. If you’re craving high-stakes twists, this may feel too mellow, but if you want something uplifting and wholesome that leaves you lighter than it found you, it’s an easy recommendation.

Rip Tide is clearly aiming for a wholesome, feel-good “reset your life” coming-of-age story, swapping big-city fashion drama for small-town healing by the sea. The problem is it plays out exactly how you expect, with familiar beats and character turns that feel more sketched than lived-in, so the emotional moments don’t land with much punch. Performances can be uneven, and the pacing often drifts into bland territory rather than building real tension or insight. If you’re happy with a gentle, low-stakes family drama carried mostly by pretty coastal scenery and easy comfort, it may do the job, but if you want depth, surprises, or sharp writing, this likely isn’t for you.