Throw Out the Anchor!

Although "Throw Out the Anchor!" was rated G, a rating that does seem appropriate except maybe for the most prudish of viewers, I don't see any kind of audience for this movie. Kids will be bored stiff, because there's hardly any action and the movie is endless talk, talk, talk. For that matter, parents will find the movie a tough slog as well. Though they may have more patience than their kids, more likely than not they will find it boring as well. They will also find additional issues with the movie, such as its rock bottom production values and the dodgy level of acting. Also, the level of comedy during the lighter portions of the movie is extremely simple-minded slapstick. In short, the negative of the movie should have been attached to the anchor before the anchor was thrown out.

This is a badly made movie about a publicity guy on vacation helping a small town fight big business and pollution. Clearly aimed at the family market this appears to have been made by a bunch of film makers who didn't know what to do beyond point and shoot. This would be passable if it wasn't for the fact that the cast knows that no one behind the camera cared so they don't care either. Everyone seems to be walking through their roles as if waiting for something better to come along. Still the movie can't be completely written off since there are a few laughs and once you get a decent amount into the film you'll be curious enough to see what happens (I liken it to seeing a bad road accident). I wouldn't hunt it down, but if trapped in a room with this on I think you could do worse.

One almost expects a degree of pathos when viewing the ensemble drama of Throw Out the Anchor. Indeed, when presented with such a serious and irony free play based on one man's struggle against corporate America, and of course his own inner struggle to sustain that true American identity, then I suppose it is not surprising that the material presented is devoid of humour.

Once, while serving in the Second Boer War, my grand-uncle observed an Elephant absent-mindedly defecate upon the head of a Trek Oxen. I'm sad to report that this is a similar experience to that which one will find if one does manage to sit through the serious allegory of the Second World War presented through some middle aged-man's efforts to save a cove from being built over by a road.

Second World War, you ask? Indeed. For within this film you will find the Jewish lawyer forced to gaze upon the remnants of a society he once loved, a sub-continental type praising universal love (representing the forgotten army of the Burma campaign), the child being the face of the baby boomers post war.

There is more, but I just remembered I died a couple of years ago.

Yours, Brian Sewell's ghost.

I got this film in the 50-pack Drive-in collection. 'Throw Out the Anchor' I found to be a mundane comedy... it's your average 1970s Z-grade film comedy. Nothing special about it. It's not very funny. It's full of your average jokes and 'cutesy' music. Flat jokes, average characters that aren't that likable & an unmemorable boring story.

If you want to spice the film up watching in x2 mode at-least they sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks - it'll add a little bit of humor that way.

If you happen upon this film, you won't miss anything if you decide not to watch watch it. If you do decide to watch it don't expect very much out of them. It's rather boring.

2/10

This family comedy has a fairly serious background: the ecological destruction of much of Florida in the late 60s/early 70s and the real estate boom that was also destroying much of the nature in favour of trendy condos. The film is also surprisingly straightforward regarding corrupt poloiticians. this set up reminded me pretty much of John D. MacDonald's late Travis McGee novels which was my main reason for watching it. The film itself was quite enjoyable with some funny moments and some mediocre moments but hardly any bad moments. The story centers around a group of people that seem to be a microcosm of what America should be: all ethnic groups and ahe groups living in tolerance and harmony but without being too obvious about it. Okay, the solution itself is pretty silly and was a bit of a let down but all in all I found it a very entertaining and well made film which for the day and age it was shot in was very open and critical.