Les nouveaux Robinson

I loved this movie when I was like 10! Wish I could stream it somewhere to show my kids. I bet my opinion may change a bit now, but it was a fun movie to watch! Let us stream this movie! I bet I'm not the only one who remembers it!

This isn't the best adaption of the Swiss Family Robinson story you'll ever see. And while I almost fell asleep during the film, I managed to stay awake and finish it.

The story is about the family Robinson, Marscha, Doug and their children Roger and Jane Robinson. Their yacht gets hijacked by three pirates. After the family dispatches the pirates they get stuck in a storm. The next thing they know they're trapped on an island. The family has no trouble at all with surviving on the island, they make a very fancy treehouse and even use electricity. The story is especially focused on Mrs Robinson who never paid any attention to her family at home, Beverly Hills. The whole event brings the family closer to each other. Another inhabitant of the island, Digger, tells Mr and Mrs Robinson that their kids are capable of so much more than they realize. On the island the family really learn what a loving family is all about.

The story is very predictable and the pirates are a bit annoying, the fun part of the movie is the house of the Robinsons. Whatever they want, they manage to make it. It's uncanny. Even MacGuyver would see green if he saw the Robinson's house on the island.

So why did I watch it? Sarah Michelle Gellar, how's that for a reason? Not that her role is so big. While this film will never be on of my favorites, it's very entertaining in the traditional Disney style. Just don't take this movie seriously.

I tried to hate it and call it a tired interpretation of the old Disney classic, but I ended up falling in love with its quirky humor and general atmosphere of fun. Call it a romp through good family-oriented humor and hijinks. It's something you can share with the kids and get a laugh out of yourself. I admit I just love Sarah Michelle Gellar, but be forewarned, she's no Buffy here. Dyan Cannon was supreme and never looked better, imho. She and Martin Mull has great chemistry.

I sat through the entire film for one reason only - glimpses of the delightful Sarah Michelle Gellar. While SMG does appear several times (invariably in some form of bikini top) it's not often enough to make up for the rest of this execrable production.

A well-to-do Beverly Hills family find themselves stranded on a deserted island and pull together to 'make do'. One of the hilarious aspects of this film is just how well they manage to adapt to their new surroundings. Within a few weeks we not only have a 3 bedroom house constructed, but we've got a working power supply, dishwasher and electric lights. The air conditioning is on its way. Basically, the technology on the island is best described as Gilligan's Island on crack.

Of course, there are some nasties on the island too, but I wouldn't want to give too much away.

Now, on to the acting. Martin Mull (dad) and SMG (daughter) put in pretty good performances. Everyone else does a very poor job, the sort of stuff you'd expect on a low-budget Disney family movie. I had serious problems deciding whether the Ryan O'Donohue (son) was actually male or female too.

There are plot holes you could drive a truck through, and many leads are not followed up.

The soundtrack is appalling, the usual children's TV type of muzak. Bad stuff indeed.

All of that said, I must admit to laughing heartily at just how pathetic this production was, so it is worthwhile from a comedy perspective. I would imagine that little kids would love the movie too - unsurprising as they are the target audience.

All up, 3 out of 10 (2 for the laughs at how bad the film was, 1 for the occasional glimpse of SMG in a bikini top).

BEVERLY HILLS FAMILY ROBINSON is a light-hearted flick, and should be viewed from that perspective. The opening scenes are "supposed" to be in Beverly Hills, but was it was filmed in Australia. There was a telltale oversight regarding this, and am surprised that someone didn't catch it at the time. When Martin Mull got in the golf cart, I noticed the steering was on the opposite side from what it would be in America.

The black pirate, Michael Edward-Stevens, was excellent...the funniest in the entire movie. He did an excellent job!