Explicitness serves 'The Real Cancun'

They might revoke my film critic privileges for saying this, but I have to admit it: I liked "The Real Cancun."

The first so-called reality movie comes from the people who pioneered the reality-TV genre: Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray, who created MTV's "The Real World" more than a decade ago.

This is the story of 16 strangers picked to go on spring break in Cancun and have their lives taped. And their lives, at least for a week, consist of getting drunk on the beach, making out with random people, waking up hung over the next day, and doing it all over again.

Why, you ask, should you run out to the multiplex and spend money on something you can watch on television? Because it's far more explicit -- and dare I say, real -- than even the raunchiest hot tub romps in the most recent "Real World" in Las Vegas. And that makes the movie a mindless, guilty pleasure.

While the beginning feels like a tedious, big-screen version of a "Girls Gone Wild" video, and the sexual hijinks at the end drag on like bad midnight Skinemax fare, several moments are surprisingly funny -- and at times, laugh-out-loud hilarious.

Much of what makes it work lies in the casting. Sasha Alpert, a veteran of casting for "The Real World" and MTV's "Road Rules," has a great eye for finding people who are fun, fearless and -- most importantly -- photogenic.

Among the cast members, picked from 10,000 applicants nationwide:

Jeremy, a tan, toned 22-year-old who proclaims early in the film, "Girls go on spring break to find guys like me."

Roxanne and Nicole, 20-year-old identical twins who resemble Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks, and have no qualms about grinding against each other onstage if it helps them win a wet T-shirt contest.

And David and Heidi, 18-year-old best friends who've never hooked up, but have a pent-up romance that rivals Dawson and Joey's on "Dawson's Creek."

Some of the most memorable moments come courtesy of Casey, a 25-year-old aspiring model who must be the spawn of Jeff Spicoli in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and Owen Wilson's character in "Zoolander." His mating call goes something like this: "Do any of you girls wanna make out or anything? ... Why not?"

But the most human character of all is Alan, an 18-year-old freshman at Texas Tech who'd never had a drink before heading south of the border.

Alan begins his vacation behind thick glasses and a shy demeanor, politely declining when the tequila starts flowing. But when he takes off his glasses, he's a total cutie -- he almost resembles a young Brad Pitt.

In no time, he's downing shots, putting on a bikini bottom for a "hot bod" contest (which he wins) and kissing girls he doesn't even know. (Ever the Southern gentleman, though, he'll ask a girl for her name after he makes his move.)

Alan's story isn't exactly heartwarming, but it's kind of a joy watching him gain confidence as the week progresses.

His metamorphosis makes "The Real Cancun" a much more engaging coming-of-age tale than the ones depicted in far tamer movies like "Beach Blanket Bingo" in the '60s and "Private Resort" in the '80s.

And if you just can't get enough, the people who created ABC's "The Bachelor" and "Are You Hot?" are coming out with their own spring break movie, "The Quest," later this year.

Rated R (for strong sexuality/nudity, language and partying), 90 minutes (Cape West Cine)