OVERBOARD [1987 / 2014] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
Full of Off-The-Wall Jokes and Very Funny Performances!
‘OVERBOARD’ is a 1987 American romantic comedy film starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. It was directed by Garry Marshall, produced by Roddy McDowall, and loosely inspired by the 1974 Italian film ‘Swept Away.’ OSCAR® winner Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell [Real-life couple] team up for this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy. While her yacht’s stuck for repairs in a small Oregon town, spoiled socialite Joanna Stayton [Goldie Hawn] hires local carpenter Dean Proffitt [Kurt Russell] to remodel her closet... but then refuses to pay him. So when she accidentally falls overboard and loses her memory, Dean Proffitt takes his one chance for revenge. Claiming she’s “Annie,” his old ball and chain, the hunky widower makes her work off her debt by taking care of his house and four unruly children in this laugh-out-loud funny, riches-to-rags romance!
FILM FACT No.2: Awards and Nominations: 1988 American Comedy Awards: Nominated: Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) for Goldie Hawn. 1989 Young Artist Awards: Nominated: Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy for Jamie Wild. Nominated: Best Family Motion Picture in a Comedy.
FILM FACT No.2: The film ‘OVERBOARD’ has grown a cult status over the years and has been remade twice. In 2006, it was adapted into the South Korean television series “Couple or Trouble,” and in 2018 a reimagined film of the same name, starring Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez, was released on the 4th May, 2018. The main roles are reversed from the 1987 original film. Eugenio Derbez portrays a wealthy man who falls off of his yacht and is found by Anna Faris' character, a single mother who convinces him that he is her husband.
Cast: Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Edward Herrmann, Katherine Helmond, Michael Hagerty, Roddy McDowall, Jared Rushton, Jeffrey Wiseman, Brian Price, Jamie Wild, Frank Campanella, Harvey Miller, Frank Buxton, Carol Williard, Doris Hess, Ed Cree, Mona Lyden, Lucinda Crosby, Bing Russell, Richard Stahl, Ray Combs, Marvin Braverman, The Wright Brothers Band, Tim Wright (The Wright Brothers Band), Tom Wright (The Wright Brothers Band), John McDowell III (The Wright Brothers Band), Steven Walker (The Wright Brothers Band), Israel Juarbe, Robert Goldman, Keith Syphers, Robert Meadows, Julie Paris, Rielle Hunter, Lisa Beth Ross, Erin Grant, Liz Stewart, Laura Fabian, Paul Tinder, Scott Marshall, Bill Applebaum, Don Thompson, Hector Elizondo (uncredited), Irena Ferris (uncredited), Garry Marshall (Drummer) Blair Richwood (uncredited) and Sven-Ole Thorsen (uncredited)
Director: Gary Marshall
Producers: Alexandra Rose, Anthea Sylbert, Nick Abdo and Roddy McDowall
Screenplay: Leslie Dixon
Composers: Alan Silvestri and Randy Newman (end title theme)
Cinematography: John A. Lonzo (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Spanish: 1.0 Mono Audio
French: 2.0 Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French
Running Time: 112 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: This 1987 screwball comedy film ‘OVERBOARD’ is an incredible study of star power, displaying how a few seasoned professionals can take a limp script and turn it into something unremarkable, yet completely palatable. Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are truly the only reasons to keep watching this otherwise flaccid comedy, which feels static when it should zing and oppressive when it should soar.
Trapped in Elk Cove, Oregon while her yacht is docked for repairs, spoiled heiress Joanna Stayton [Goldie Hawn] hires strapping carpenter Dean Proffitt [Kurt Russell] to construct a new closet for her shoe collection. On-board, Dean Proffitt bears witness to Joanna Stayton's bully belligerent behaviour, a shrill routine of snobbery soon turned on Dean Proffitt. When Joanna Stayton is knocked off the boat late one night, she awakens in a local hospital, unable to recall the details of her life due to trauma. Dean Proffitt, sensing an opportunity to take back what's owed him, convinces Joanna Stayton that he is her husband and his squalid home with four children is her family. Unsure, but unable to protest, Joanna is introduced to the ways of housewifery, while Dean Proffitt works to keep the scam going while tending to a few professional opportunities.
‘OVERBOARD’ is a gentle romantic comedy, directed by Garry Marshall in passive, unfunny manner that would come to define his career. The filmmaker is searching for a classic Hollywood feel for the material and scripted by Leslie Dixon, arranging a battle of wills between Joanna Stayton and Dean Proffitt, set loose inside an amnesia premise that's only moderately tended to. In fact, there's barely a reason for Joanna's misfortune at all, but who am I to stop the progress of monkey business.
The majority of the film is devoted to Joanna Stayton's domestic deliverance, spotlighting her attempts to tame this family of undomesticated rapscallions while working inside a dilapidated home, a filthy backwoods abode Dean Proffitt almost seems proud of the situation. Feeds lies by the un-showered clan, Joanna Stayton is shoved into a life she doesn't recognise, faintly recalling her time with privilege, yet confronted with doctored photos of her life with Dean Proffitt, while facing four horrifying reminders of her once potent sexual prowess.
The comedy emerges from Joanna Stayton's mortified reactions and Dean Proffitt's frantic scheming, yet Gary Marshall is only interested in the surface elements of the sneaky imprisonment, turning rural Oregon into deep Kentucky to display a redneck wonderland of beer consumption, water barrel dunks, and working-class dreams of miniature golf. ‘OVERBOARD’ moves along like it have somewhere to go, yet halfway through the picture, it suddenly dawns that this is it. Just some mild animosity, playful fibbing, and the slow dance of love, as the lead characters gradually move from shock to romance, with Joanna creating a home Dean Proffitt and boys grow to adore, finally receiving a sense of discipline that's been absent for far too long. With Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn out front and centre, ‘OVERBOARD’ enjoys their easy chemistry and amusing comedic timing. Playing stereotypes, the actors serve up pronounced behaviour and bug-eyed reactions superbly. Kurt Russell alone is a convincing jumble of ambition and anxiety as Dean Proffitt nervously covers his tracks to keep Joanna Stayton disoriented. He's terribly fun in the role, finding the right he-man tenor to best accentuate Goldie Hawn's articulation of confusion and especially her bookend scenes as a spoiled brat are colourful, creating a perceptible arc to the character and her frazzled sense of location. So all in all, this is a truly hilarious film that has the tabled turned on a spoilt brat and eventually everything has a very happy ending and was a joy to watch.
OVERBOARD MUSIC TRACK LIST
SOMETHING SPECIAL (Written and Performed by Randy Newman) [Performed by Randy Newman]
I LOVE YOU MADLY (Written by Harvey Miller) [Performed by Harvey Miller]
TEQUILA (Written by Chuck Río) (uncredited) [Performed by The Champs]
SEMPER PARATUS (Written by Francis S. Van Boskerck) (uncredited) [Performed by The U.S. Coast Guard Band]
SHOT DOWN IN HOT BLOOD [Performed by The Wright Brothers]
JIM DANDY TO THE RESCUE (uncredited) (Written by Lincoln Chase) [Performed by The Wright Brothers]
CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE (uncredited) (Written by George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore) [Performed by Elvis Presley]
LEGS (uncredited) (Written by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard) [Performed by The Wright Brothers]
Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘OVERBOARD’ is another recent batch of generic catalogue titles released in the UK by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Presented in its proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio for the first time, the image at first looks like it might be decent: the opening credits roll and the red-coloured font shouts "Hey, check me out!" And, just as soon as that happens, it stays like that: decent. There's a layer of grain sets in that never goes away, plagued the remainder of the film and preventing any improvements in this 1080p image transfer from really being seen (providing they were there to being with, that is, it looks as if 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in the UK didn't put a whole lot of effort into this release). On the plus-side, it is still a lot better than the old inferior DVD release I had in my collection.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound mix is a competent blend of music and dialogue exchanges, with a frontal push for voices, though the actors sound a little bit on the thin side, lacking a substantial weight to reinforce their comedic efforts. Soundtrack cuts and scoring cues sound bright and eager, providing depth to the track and supporting mood when called upon. Atmospherics are detectable for outdoor encounters and bar scenes, but are limited by design. Low-end is minimal. In short: a good comedy film release and of course ‘OVERBOARD’ is a fun throwback to the Screwball Comedy, one that not only went by unnoticed when first released, but that went by just as unobserved by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in the UK restoration experts.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Theatrical Trailer [1987] [1080p] [1.85:1] [2:00] It is such a shame that they could only come up with this particular Trailer for the special features. I would have thought with these two main major stars, they could have had some behind-the-scene documentary or better still, been able to interview Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, especially as they are a real-life couple.
Finally, ‘OVERBOARD’ is a really enjoyable fun rollicking film and enough if taken on its own unambitious terms. Hawn is a hoot, especially in the opening scenes, and she and Russell have great on screen chemistry. The film itself is a mishmash, a sort of warmed over sitcom that has just a hint of the smarmy in its main conceit. This Blu-ray image is very passable, but fans of the film will probably delight that at least it's framed correctly in its aspect ratio presentation. The performances of Goldie Hawn particularly and Kurt Russell who make the best reason for watching ‘OVERBOARD’ and you will have endless hours of fun with repeat viewing, but it's certainly no masterpiece, but despite this I personally think it is a definite classic screwball comedy and Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell work so brilliant together and I have loved this film ever since its cinema release and I am so pleased I waited for this Blu-ray release, as both these actors are up there with my massive List of favourite actors and so happy and pleased to add it to my ever expanding Blu-ray Collection, especially with these two fantastic stars. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
