It takes a while, but this film does grow on you. It has a very unpromising beginning, just a storm at sea and a rowboat coming in to shore, but hang in there with it. Good movies require patience and, in this case, it will be rewarded. No, it won't be rewarded with something along the lines of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, but it will be rewarded nevertheless. If you like zany, madcap fun, then this movie is for you. The thing I like about it is, as many times as I've seen this movie over the years (and that probably numbers over twenty), I always pick up on something I miss before every time I see it. Robin Williams obviously had fun doing this movie. You can tell, he just seems to be enjoying himself. But you have to really pay attention, listen to some of his mumblings. They are quite hilarious if you can catch them. ("Let me help you with the door maybe it needs a little more oil.") Favorite character? Poopdeck Pappy. He hit the nail right on the head where kids were concerned.
This is the first movie I saw where they turned a cartoon into a live action movie. It does look a little weird, the zany characters and those gawky shoes they wore. And Shelly Duvall even looks like Olive Oyl in just about every movie I've seen her in. These actors did a great job of portraying the characters, and kudos should go to the costume designers and makeup artists as well. This was very well done. And the story wasn't too bad, either. It was a little slow at times, but that's forgivable. All in all, not a bad effort. Better than expected. 7 out of 10.
