In the acclaimed Netflix movie “The Beach”, starring Dabney Coleman, actress/writer Darby Crashle (Leitao Diaz Ordaz) plays an aging, yet fit, bikini-clad Brazilian named Lara Leito, who becomes the new soprano in an exotic and exciting men’s retreat. Her siren appeal is enough to capture and keep the interest of her new male friend, Alba (Kirsten Dunst), who quickly realizes that Leito has more going for her than her physical looks. But can an experienced masseur/spouse successfully seduce a woman who is also an experienced and talented athlete? In order to properly address this issue, we must first take a closer look at the fitness background and expectations of Leitao and his chosen masseur, played by Cortazar.
It would be safe to assume that Leitao is of Latin American descent, as seen in the casting of the role, and as is common for any role that requires a physique closer to that of the ethnicity. As such, it should come as no surprise that one of the first things that occurs is that Cortazar attempts to heighten her height, via body sculpting and a variety of leg and back exercises. While these moves do increase Leitao’s height and bulk, they are much too strenuous for her partner, Alba. In addition, Alba is not interested in height increases and muscular mass, believing instead that Leitao needs help with her balance and coordination. When Leitao finally breaks away from the masseur for a moment to stretch her newly developed body, she finds that her balance and coordination have been greatly improved, though she is still considerably overweight.
The question of whether or not Leitao can be considered fit rests primarily on her choice of profession for a start. As seen in the third installment of the Beach series, where she works as a lifeguard at a prestigious resort, and where her new position is advertised in the newspaper, Leitao’s fitness levels are only in the initial stages of development. As such, this would be a film that would more likely cater to an adult audience, though references are made to the importance of maintaining fitness in modern society. This, coupled with the clear message of the importance of positive fitness in everyone, would make this an ideal film for those who are struggling with issues of body image, self confidence, and general social awareness. However, if you are looking for a serious and well developed film about fitness, and whose primary purpose is to promote fitness and health, then this title is not worth your time.