Pirate Movie

My parents taped this movie off the TV when I was about 7 years old. We still had the Beta machine back then. I loved this movie and I watched it over and over and over again. I would watch it, rewind it and play it again until my family got so sick of it, they would come in and turn it off on me. I had it practically memorized, but after we got the VHS, I couldn't watch it anymore and I was so disappointed. I meant to transfer it onto a VHS, but I never have. I always thought it was a made-for-TV movie until I found it on this site. After I found it here, I immediately went and ordered the DVD because I was so excited. I'm not sure why it appealed to me so much as a kid, but I loved the corny jokes and the music was very catchy and upbeat. My brothers and I still break into a chorus of Tarantara every once in a while. Plus the movie has a little bit of everything - comedy, romance, adventure, drama. The reason I gave it an 8 rather than a 10 is because some parts of the movie are a little too cheesy, particularly the underwater scene.

Anyone rating this less than 7 clearly doesn't understand the film at all. When Gilbert & Sullivan first wrote The Pirates of Penzance in the late 1800's, they were writing it in satire of the operatic idiom. If the film's title wasn't enough of a clue in itself, The Pirate Movie is a satire of the sort of musical adventure cinema we were seeing in the 70's and early 80's (see Grease, Xanadu, The Wiz, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Man of La Mancha, Rock & Roll High School... the list goes on!). Also, it was just meant to be a lot of fun. If you are going in, expecting something with the musical mastery of West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables, you are looking in the wrong place. If a film that could be the lovechild of The Goonies and ABBA sounds intriguing, then you are going to have a blast! So put away your critic's notepad, pop some corn and enjoy!

I was a theatre snob when this film came out. I'd seen the play (operetta/light-opera) and other Gilbert and Sullivan offerings, and when this film was announced I donned my elitist hat, and wrongfully snubbed this film. At least in public.

Privately I thought it was okay, but still had misgivings. I mean, the theatre was an affair for those with true desire to see stage performances: A thing enjoyed by a certain club. To have it popularized and reworked for "the masses" felt like a jab. Like having something private torn away from you to be shared with all.

Well, like I say, I had mixed feelings regarding the film. On the one hand I found it a delightful fantasy for adults, with tons of innuendo and jokes. On the other hand it felt like a high-concept sexploitation film for teenagers, and that really outraged this viewer.

Or it did.

Through this confluence of emotions, and a few more years and screenings later, I've come to love it for what it is. A reminder of a somewhat simpler time for the youth oriented, but still ever so marginally polluted with 80's teenage sexual tension. A somewhat not-so-subtle attempt to pacify (not emasculate) the male. A heartfelt affair that actually has a lot of pleasantness to offer, but it's also rather saccharine to boot.

To me this is the kind of film you watch on a lazy weekend afternoon, or with some other friends (notably couples) you grew up with for a little romantic boost.

There's a number or two more added here from the original production, the dialog of course resembles nothing of the Victorian dictates once recited by the thespians, and there's lots of contemporary 80's references thrown in to boot.

I like the movie. I really do. Don't get me wrong. And, after a fashion I'm glad it was made, but as I say, it feels like a private world of us theatre snobs was forced out into the open without our approval. Even so it is a fun watch. Particularly Kristy McNichol's witty delivery. She's the star, and shines brightly.

Other than the superficial alterings of dialog and music, that's the real shift in this film. Kristy is the hero, not Frederick a-la the stage production. She's the one that gets things rolling, not her love interest. In retrospect, that was a logical film marketing maneuvre. So, in essence, you're watching the female version of the Pirates of Penzance.

There's tons of comedy here. Too many scenes and too many references to list. Some are delivered pretty fast, and almost whiz by if you're not on your toes. Note Mabel's expression as she rallies the police force with her final line. Or her interaction with the homage to Chief Inspector Crusoe. Really priceless comedic stuff. Other humor is a little telegraphed, some sight gags work, others not as much. Again, we're getting romance driven humor. Sex games without the sex.

Still, if you ever get a chance, go see a revival of the original "Pirates of Penzance". Or, better yet, rent or buy the televised stage production with the original 1980's cast available on DVD.

Either way give "The Pirate Movie" a shot. Me, I sure do wish I was young again, and had a woman like Mabel. It's probably the one roll in which I thought Kristy McNichole was really desirable. If you're a dude like me, and was around when this film was released, then watch it for that alone :-) Enjoy.

I have always found this to be a terribly under-rated film. Okay, so it isn't exactly true to Gilbert & Sullivan. So what? I love Gilbert and Sullivan, but this is obviously supposed to be a take-off and spoof, much like Scary Movie is a take-off and spoof. Nonetheless, I find this to be a wonderfully entertaining movie. It is extremely funny, it is filmed beautifully on location in Australia, and it has great music. Christopher Atkins and Kristy McNichol are wonderful in this film. I sure wish the studio would get around to re-releasing this film on DVD, and re-releasing the soundtrack on CD. It has been overlooked for far too long. I know many other people, who like me, simply love this film.

I had found the movie while searching youtube for something to watch and I found it, at first it felt like a fever dream and didn't feel like it was real but it is quite enjoyable and something I do go back to every now and again... the big dance numbers and singing make this super cheesy and I love it. From the cast and Ruth just being there for comedic value its everything you want, it may be your best princess bride and its worth watching on a rainy day.