The best compliment I can give for this film is its glorious production value an breathtaking scenery however, The Mosquito Coast is a failed attempt to make a film about an alternative civilization and instead falls into a parody of idiotic characters. I'm not putting down the actors. In fact, there is a phenomenal cast here with Hellen Mirren, River Pheonix, and Harrison Ford. The problem is that the characters in this film are treated like cartoons. There's the wimpy and wacky missionary played by Andre Gregory and Harrison Ford sounds like a loud-mouthed ego maniac who lacks any awareness to his outside world. We see this in a scene when he complains to an Indian tribe after trying to deliver ice from a two day hike up the river. They are pointing arrows at him and he just assumes they will understand him. Is he a genius or an idiot? One of the worst elements of this film is how the natives of "Mosquitia" are portrayed. This is a politically-incorrect (racist) film if I ever saw one. These people are immediately welcoming of the Fox family as if they instinctively know that white people are going to save and improve their lives. Would'nt the Fox's be learning from them? What's even worse, is how brainwashed they become when the missionaries come to kidnap them. With the exception of Mr. Hattie, Peter Weir treats these natives like a bunch of mindless pawns. I really wanted to like this film and its too bad it was made by such a great director. It has a great premise and the scene of the towering ice machine in the middle of the jungle is chillingly symbolic.
If only Allie Fox had kept his cool instead of burning down the reverend's church, I may have liked he film a little more...but not much. I prefer realism in a film like this, not stereotypical cartoons.
If only Allie Fox had kept his cool instead of burning down the reverend's church, I may have liked he film a little more...but not much. I prefer realism in a film like this, not stereotypical cartoons.