Fun Mediterrainean romp with an American film crew making a Nico Mastrakis type of action/romance movie in Rhodos.
From Dave Morgan's smooth intro song (sounding a bit like a mellow "Sweet Freedom" from Running Scared), explaining the basic plot, to the lovely photography of the Greek island, this a great summer movie to just chill and absorb.
I really enjoy these American Abroad movies and this one actually seems to have a sister movie, "Pretty Smart". A few of the same foreign and domestic actors appear in both moves and it was also made in '86!
THE BAD: One sequence, involving a chainsaw, is a bit clunky and TBH, corny.
Brad Zutaut's portrayal of Scotty is one of the rare times when you side with anyone over the protagonist. Scotty comes across as one of those selfish guys who laughs at other's misfortune but cannot take a joke on himself. His nemesis Sean (Curt Wilmot) comes across as a much nicer guy and it is usually Scotty that provokes Sean into defending himself.
The sound quality is a bit trebly.
THE GOOD: Director Mark Griffiths hires some great local Greek talent and George Gifos, Alexandros Mylonas and Giorgos Kotanidis portray memorable and likeable characters, with Mylonas playing Brucie, an exceptionally likeable and charismatic crew-member.
James Karen plays the director, Logan, with superb energy and zest, lifting all the scenes he is in.
Curt Wilmot, as Sean, proves that he has very funny bones. As co-writer of this, he probably gave himself the best lines. As the "baddie", he's too likeble. One scene in particular made me laugh out loud, where his head suddenly appears through a hole in a tent to gawp at Zutaut and Fabiana Udenio's sex scene. Another funny moment is when a burly Greek bouncer calls him "Gayboy" in garbled english.
Brenda Bakke is likeably childish as Scotty's gold-digging fiance, Morgan and Sam Temeles is an improvement over Courtney Gains' interpretation of Rag/Raggs. So much so that I would rather have seen more of Raggs than Scotty. Raggs here is an easy-going joy (and kind of reminded me of Bob Grant's portrayal of Jack in "On The Buses" for some reason), and not a selfish, smug git like Scotty.
Sorrells Pickard and Roberta Collins reprise their roles from the first movie, and also have an (mostly) easy-going charm about them, whilst Louise Baker also returns in this movie. Is she the same character from the first movie? Possibly.
Overall, this movie has a laid-back charm and you can tell that the filmmakers had great fun making it. You almost feel as though you're on holiday with them.
Makes me pine for 80s exotic holidays!
It certainly deserves more than the 3.2 average it has received.
From Dave Morgan's smooth intro song (sounding a bit like a mellow "Sweet Freedom" from Running Scared), explaining the basic plot, to the lovely photography of the Greek island, this a great summer movie to just chill and absorb.
I really enjoy these American Abroad movies and this one actually seems to have a sister movie, "Pretty Smart". A few of the same foreign and domestic actors appear in both moves and it was also made in '86!
THE BAD: One sequence, involving a chainsaw, is a bit clunky and TBH, corny.
Brad Zutaut's portrayal of Scotty is one of the rare times when you side with anyone over the protagonist. Scotty comes across as one of those selfish guys who laughs at other's misfortune but cannot take a joke on himself. His nemesis Sean (Curt Wilmot) comes across as a much nicer guy and it is usually Scotty that provokes Sean into defending himself.
The sound quality is a bit trebly.
THE GOOD: Director Mark Griffiths hires some great local Greek talent and George Gifos, Alexandros Mylonas and Giorgos Kotanidis portray memorable and likeable characters, with Mylonas playing Brucie, an exceptionally likeable and charismatic crew-member.
James Karen plays the director, Logan, with superb energy and zest, lifting all the scenes he is in.
Curt Wilmot, as Sean, proves that he has very funny bones. As co-writer of this, he probably gave himself the best lines. As the "baddie", he's too likeble. One scene in particular made me laugh out loud, where his head suddenly appears through a hole in a tent to gawp at Zutaut and Fabiana Udenio's sex scene. Another funny moment is when a burly Greek bouncer calls him "Gayboy" in garbled english.
Brenda Bakke is likeably childish as Scotty's gold-digging fiance, Morgan and Sam Temeles is an improvement over Courtney Gains' interpretation of Rag/Raggs. So much so that I would rather have seen more of Raggs than Scotty. Raggs here is an easy-going joy (and kind of reminded me of Bob Grant's portrayal of Jack in "On The Buses" for some reason), and not a selfish, smug git like Scotty.
Sorrells Pickard and Roberta Collins reprise their roles from the first movie, and also have an (mostly) easy-going charm about them, whilst Louise Baker also returns in this movie. Is she the same character from the first movie? Possibly.
Overall, this movie has a laid-back charm and you can tell that the filmmakers had great fun making it. You almost feel as though you're on holiday with them.
Makes me pine for 80s exotic holidays!
It certainly deserves more than the 3.2 average it has received.