Movie: Overboard

This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.

Rich Bitch Ditched & Switched

Plot Overview

Sea gulls skate over placid ocean water while a yacht's horn melds with orchestral back­ground horns. The Immaculata is entering port for engine repairs at Elk Cove (aka Elk Grove, aka Elk Snout), Oregon. The bored yacht proprietress Joanna Stayton (Goldie Hawn) engages local expert carpenter Dean Proffitt (Kurt Russell) to repair her closet (“You want me to remodel your closet?”) Some innuendo is acted out with measuring tape and fish eggs.

A couple of dunkings later and an amnesiac "Jane Doe" is pulled from the water by a garbage scow and her likeness broad­cast on Tillamook County K-RAB's TV program “Sun­rise Report” with an appeal for some­one to come claim her. The hospital staff doesn't want her (“She's not the nicest person in the world, this lady”), her husband Grant (Edward Herr­mann) sure doesn't (“Mrs Stayton has decided to leave me … Let's celebrate”), but the conniving widowed carpenter hatches a plan (“Dean, it's illegal, it's crazy”) to get back in trade what she still owes him for her closet repair. With the complicity of his four bratty children, they convince her she's his wife (“That's my little cookie cutter”) and their mother (“Hi, Mom!”) The life of a drudge they lay out for her is all she knows (“Doctor says to get right back to your normal routine.”) Dean has got him “a wonderful slave.” Now a school bus horn honks with the back­ground orchestral horns.

As her absent legal husband parties aboard the Immaculata and her new life starts to grow on Dean & boys, her worried rich mother decides to pursue what happened to her. How will it all end?

Ideology

In a well-known Psalm 107 about God's loving-kindness exists this section: (Psalm 107:17-22) “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanks­giving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” The foolish “rich bitch” because of her transgression and iniquities is afflicted. She abhors the dainty cut-rate caviar her butler serves her (“Throw that out”) and then she her­self falls over­board into the briny deep, the gate to Davy Jones's locker. She cries out in despair, “My hair! Help!” She gets rescued by an Elk Cove Garbage Scow and is taken to Elk Cove Community Hospital.

There she encounters a Good Samaritan with an inspiration (Dean Proffitt: “Billy, there is a God and he loves me!”) His plan is right from, (1Tim. 5:14-15) “I will there­fore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan.” She's now got a ready-made husband, four undisciplined children, and a messy house to take care of, not to mention an angry school principal to mollify. Now called Annie she declaims, “I don't belong here, I feel it, don't you think I feel it? I can't do any of these vile things and I wouldn't WANT to. Oh, my life is like death. My children are the spawn of hell, and you're the devil. Oh God.” ¶Dean Proffitt: “But baby, we LIKE you.” Reminds me of a line from P.T. Deuter­mann's novel, Red Swan: “It's kinda like what old wives tell new wives: Don't do any­thing the first week of marriage you don't want to do for the rest of your married life” (152).

Production Values

This 1987 romcom, “” was directed by Garry Marshall. It was written by Leslie Dixon. It stars Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Michael Hagerty plays Dean's red­neck buddy Bad Billy Pratt who adds some occasional good sense to this silly drama. Goldie Hawn is really the heart of “Over­board.” She and Russell have a palpable chemistry between them. It's one of Kurt Russell's best performances, and his character's mangy kids are endearing rather than annoying as some movie kids are. These kids are excellent. Roddy McDowall as the long­suffering butler and Edward Herr­mann as Joanna's playboy husband contribute much to the cast. The supporting cast all do blend in well.

It's rated PG, probably because it gets so raunchy at times. It was filmed at Newport, Oregon, USA on the mouth of the Columbia. Alan Silvestri's music contributes well to the emotional content of the movie, and there's also a country band in it.

Review Conclusion w/ Christian Recommendation

This movie is truly outstanding. Though not overtly religious, the themes of God's mysterious working and of the satisfactions from a whole­some domestic life are well illustrated, although any need to stay loyal to ones original cheating, deserting spouse is glossed over. “Overboard” is a good date movie, or a good family movie, as long as nobody's too sensitive to its plebeian flavor. In its own way “Over­board” has genuine charm and it features a great cast.

Movie Ratings

Action factor: Decent action scenes. Suitability for children: Suitable for children with guidance. Special effects: Well done special effects. Video Occasion: Good Date Movie. Suspense: A few suspenseful moments. Overall product rating: Five stars out of five.

Works Cited

Scripture quotations from the Authorized Version. Pub. 1611. Rev. 1769. Software.

Deutermann, P.T. Red Swan. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2017. Print.