Damon Fordham My friends, I thought "Gilligan's Island" was one of the stupidest shows of all time even as a kid. But back in the 70s, we only had 4 channels and not much else to do after we played and did our homework after school and you were too young to go out. So we didn't have much choice other than to watch tripe like this.Anyway, I recall watching some of this particular flick back in the 8th grade in 1978. I think I fell asleep around the time Thurston Howell orders some cigars from a man who is supposed to be Fidel Castro. Anyway, this was on a $3.99 DVD set at the grocery store with other public domain comedy films, so I said, "Why Not?" Now I know the answer to that last question. This was about every bit as dumb as the TV show, mixed in with topical 1970s humor about Jimmy Carter, Star Wars, Watergate, the Castro gag mentioned earlier, etc. along with Gilligan and the Skipper's poor man's Laurel and Hardy antics redux. About 20 minutes before the film ends, you can already figure out what's going to happen. You see, the late 70s was no golden age of TV comedy ("Hello Larry," "Sugar Time," and"Blansky's Beauties" anyone?) HOWEVER, there is one redeeming value of this that kept me from doing the Frisbee thing with this DVD (and from giving it only 1 star). This film did more than any original episode to show the way the characters (and the real actors, in a way) really cared about each other. I was actually touched of how each time the castaways back in civilization ran into those who wanted to exploit them individually, they stood together in each case as a united front. (This concern actually extended to real life as a very sick Jim Backus reprised his role in a later GI film out of friendship for the cast).So if you want a good movie, this ain't it. But if you want to see an interesting look at what real friendship is all about, this might help.

dpartn Where to start? First you need to know that a very important aspect was missing when this movie was filmed. Well, several aspects actually... Using a REAL camera to film the movie would have been very helpful. Instead it looks like they used Bob Denver's Betamax video cam he no doubt owned in that era. They also must have assumed that using a mid 1970s cassette tape recorder to record the audio would have enhanced the reality of spotty audio that no doubt would have been the case in reality. Then to make matters worse they seemed to have forgotten to have brought any LIGHTS to film with. The opening sequence looks like they used Bob Denver's Zippo lighter held next to the betamax camera to supply the lighting element. Then the transfer to DVD must have been done by some kid with a DVD recorder from Wal Mart who found the Beta master sitting in the back seat of one of the cast member's cars in the direct sunlight. OK, I could have just said the video, audio and transfer quality suck hideously. No fear of this one ever coming out on Blu-Ray.The plot is unfortunately as bad as the film quality. For a series that developed such a following and was well in demand you could tell how obviously small the budget was for it. The film starts out with the threat of a storm wiping the island off the map (what map?) so only then do the castaways get the idea that they can tie the huts together to make a big raft. You do have to wonder for castaways who have not had a working radio in over a decade how they kept up with the times in terms of hair style. all the men seem to have sideburns now and Ginger is doing her best Farrah hair imitation. Mr. Howell seems to have had an eye doctor visit somehow as he has prescription glasses now. Not to mention his clothes seems to fit despite his weight gain. This is true of Skipper also who has put on a few lbs. Not to mention their clothes not only seem to never show 15 years wear, but Skipper seems to be wearing a completely different shade of blue shirts now. the never ending supply of fresh clothes was a mystery when they were on the island after just 6 months. When they are on the ocean in their hut raft they figure using a sail would make them move in one direction. Subsequently everyone offers up their clothes to make a sail. a moment later we see a huge sale made of clothes but not one castaway has lost any clothes despite them saying seconds earlier of how they will be happy to remove their clothes to make a sail. I guess we forgot the episode that never aired where a freighter of clothes destine for Sears Robuck no doubt loses several tons of clothing cargo while passing the island. The plot once rescued seems absolutely goofy and not goofy good. throw in some nonsense about a pair of Russians chasing Gilligan around because he's wearing a storage disc full of sensitive data around his neck. The plot is wasted on this silly pursuit. The plot could have been a lot better but we are talking the imagination of writers in the late 70s. Not exactly our finest hour in terms of film history. But it all gores down to budget. had they put in just a couple hundred thousand more the film would have no doubt been worlds better..One would do well to watch the docudrama made around 2000 with Bob, Russell and Dawn participating in a recreation of how the show evolved. Much better film and though its not really a remake of any kind its still quite interesting to watch.

Peter (fineanimal) As a youngster and lifelong fan of Gilligan's Island, I still recall my excitement when I first learned that Rescue From Gilligan's Island was going to be shown on television. I also remember my profound disappointment when I finally saw the show: it wasn't particularly funny.Now, some 25 years later, I found myself purchasing this movie on DVD anyway, for two reasons: To enjoy sweet memories of youth when TV humor was simply good fun and didn't even pretend to be anything more, and because it only cost $5.99. Well, what can I say? I was disappointed again because, again, it wasn't particularly funny. Yet I am still very glad I now own this movie on DVD. How can that be?For all the abuse Gilligan's Island has taken over the years from "serious" humorists, the fact remains that the show appeals to everyone's desire for real friendship and camaraderie, without all the drama of real life. The original show was just plain fun to watch. And frankly, so is Rescue From Gilligan's Island, despite its many, many flaws.I know it is anathema to say so, but this movie would have scored much higher if only it had included a laugh track, as did the original TV series. The laugh track itself creates the illusion of camaraderie with an audience, and that was always part of the appeal of Gilligan's Island. So I found myself pretending to hear the original laugh track every time the cast told a joke (i.e., constantly), and lo--the film was much more palatable!On the bright side, losing the laugh track made me realize just how good these actors really were, and how great an ensemble they comprised. After all, the original cast never heard the roaring laughter the audience heard as the actors playing the castaways fired one asinine line after another between ludicrous slapstick action sequences. Without a laugh track, for example, the actors portraying Russian spies in this movie behaved beyond reproach; they were simply painful to watch. But then again, so was Wrongway Felman, Harold Hecuba, and other visitors to the island, without a laugh track. It is precisely because this ensemble was so good that they managed to score with such silly humor every time in the finished product. That takes talent (and guts, I suspect). For this reason more than anything else, I truly missed Tina Louise as Ginger: no one could adequately replace a member of such a tight ensemble. Kudos to Judith Baldwin for trying, however. Thurston and Lovely Howell are hilarious characters even without the laugh track.Overall, as another reviewer observed, the value of this film is that it provides a trip down the most pleasant stretch of memory lane. It would be wrong, however, not to mention the unforgivable production of this DVD. The sound is bad, a few jump cuts are embarrassing to watch, and the video has frequent static bars like you would see on an old, worn videotape. Shame on the production company. Shame on you!Bottom line: If you don't appreciate the Gilligan's Island TV series you will hate this movie with a capital "H", with good reason. But for those of you who get misty just thinking about Gilligan, the Skipper and company, Rescue From Gilligan's Island will help you feel like a kid again for 90 minutes, with good reason. A cast featuring Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Bill Murray and other notable comics simply couldn't even come close to pulling off the feat this underrated ensemble pulled off time and time and time again for years, for no better reason than to make all of us feel good for a half hour each week.

Flamio THIS FLICK WAS GREAT IF YOU LOVED THE SHOW AND THE CHARACTERS! 23yrs ago to see them all minus Tina (I don't know how lucky I was) Louise, was just fantastic. Ya, it was a little camp but big deal, so was the show. From seeing the rescue, to seeing what they were doing after being rescued, and to seeing them get shipwrecked again, brought a tear to my heart! A 10 all the way!!!!! What a tight group of friends that I grew up watching! Good clean fun! FLAMIO