By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Adolescent-oriented movies often present a view of love that is, at best, superficial. Not so with "Aquamarine" (20th Century Fox), a slight but sweet modern-day fable about friendship told with a delightful mix of fantasy, comedy and romance.

Based on Alice Hoffman's novel, the tale centers on two 13-year-old best friends -- scaredy-cat Claire (Emma Roberts) and take-charge Hailey (Joanna "JoJo" Levesque) -- both crestfallen over Hailey's impending move to Australia.

They spend their remaining time drooling over lifeguard Ray (Jake McDorman) at a Florida beach club, while hoping to derail Hailey's departure.

A possible solution washes ashore in the form of feisty mermaid Aquamarine (Sara Paxton), whom they discover in the club's swimming pool after a violent storm.

The maiden offers the girls one wish if they'll help her experience true love, which is nowhere to be found in the sea. Aquamarine explains how she has three days to evade an arranged marriage by proving to her dad that "real love" is not a myth. To do that, she must get someone to say the words "I love you." She casts her net for Ray, which runs her afoul of Cecilia (Arielle Kebbel), the beach's queen bee.

Hailey and Claire agree to help Aquamarine win Ray's heart, culling "advice" from magazines they've read. Their task is complicated by Aquamarine only sprouting legs in place of her fish tail during daylight hours.

Suffice it to say, the ending is not what you expect, but something far more rewarding and admirable.

Its warmly sentimental message aside, "Aquamarine" tends toward the shallow end of the pool with a lightweight script and giggly humor geared to young teens. This is "Splash" for the middle-school set.

Hoffman's story has been given a breezier tone, but stays true to its source's outline and spirit. Apart from some skimpy bikinis and rude language (including the Atlantean cuss "Bullshark!"), the film is commendably wholesome fun. (Though sans the strategically placed seashells of "The Little Mermaid," Aquamarine's blue-streaked blonde tresses keep things PG-rated.)

The two leads shine. Levesque resembles a younger Lindsay Lohan and Roberts displays the high-wattage glow of her celebrity aunt, Julia.

Beneath its 'tween fluff, however, "Aquamarine" scores points for showing that authentic love can express itself in varied ways, and not just the gooey romantic or hormonal variety that generally gets play in these types of movies. Director Elizabeth Allen's film beautifully illustrates the distinction discussed by C.S. Lewis in his "Four Loves" between eros (romantic love) and philia (friendship). Having once remarked that "sometimes the best way to tell a truth is to tell a fairy tale," Lewis would have appreciated "Aquamarine" as a vehicle for conveying such concepts and would have heartily agreed with Hailey that "love is the closest thing we have to magic."

The film contains some mild sensuality, innuendo and a few crass expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.