Overboard (2018 Review)
Definitely Not Going Overboard with the Praise on This One…
Let’s face facts, the original Overboard was more than a little problematic. I mean, Kurt Russell shows up and forces Goldie Hawn to repent for her classism through indentured servitude which somehow turns to love. Essentially, it’s a classist, sexist mess, that’s still a pretty good comedy (it was a different time). The remake though it problematic in a whole new way. Despite its attempt at gender swapping the lead roles, it still suffers from underlying sexism and classism but adds just a dash of racism to round out the dish. The thing is, that just like the original, it’s still kind of a good comedy.
The down and dirty synopsis of Overboard is that a super-rich asshole (Eugenio Derbez) falls off his yacht and suffers brain trauma that leads to amnesia. A slighted former employee (Anna Faris) then tricks him into thinking he’s married to her and the father of her children to serve two purposes 1) To force him to walk a mile in another man’s shoes and 2) to help with income and child care until she can pass her nursing exams. It’s wonderfully creative revenge that borders on kidnapping, fraud, and false imprisonment. Simply hilarious!
Overboard is not a movie I was looking forward to because it seemed like a pointless remake. However, to truly judge it on its own merits, you have to completely ignore the 1987 original. That being said, the first act of the new one is almost completely intolerable. Both Faris and Derbez are insufferable as they try their best to rub each other the wrong way. So much so, that it’s difficult to feel sympathy for either of their plights. Thirty minutes into Overboard and I could not wait for it to end. However…
The film does manage to find it’s own to legs to stand on in the second act as Derbez gets a chance to actually show off a bit of the charm he’s so well known for. Both Faris and Derbez are great comedic actors but have a history of accepting roles that require them to go over the top, which is what we see in the first act of the film. Once they mellow out a little bit and Overboard finds its rhythm, you can’t help but let it slowly grow on you. It’s definitely not one of the better comedies I’ve seen this year but Overboard is much better than I would have ever thought possible. Especially since it makes a reference to the 1987 film happening in the same universe, proving that it’s self-aware.
As a white male, I don’t really have the right to get offended on behalf of other people. Still, there were a number of things that I found more than a little problematic with the new incarnation of the film. Since there’s a gender swap, the evil billionaire is changed from being a woman to a Mexican man. The problem is that it really stuffs the Mexican stereotypes in there for the sake of comedy. Derbez becomes a day laborer to make ends meet with a construction company. The other Hispanics in the film are seen working in a kitchen and watching telenovelas all day. Oh, and the machismo is strong in this film. Like I said, it’s not my place to be offended by these things, but maybe these aren’t good cliches to be used when the writing/ directing team has last names like Dixon and Greenberg (especially with one of the big jokes focusing on a Speedy Gonzalez tattoo).
That being said, what I do appreciate about Overboard is that its heart is in the right place. There are extended sequences in the film where characters do speak only in Spanish (even the Farris’ character took the time to learn to speak it), there are actually Hispanic actors cast in Hispanic roles, and there’s a strong focus on the value of family and a close community. Plus, the Mexican lead is a billionaire.
At the end of the day, Overboard isn’t a great movie. My expectations were pretty low for it, so it did manage to exceed them. This is mostly thanks to Derbez who is absolutely adorable in the film. As it goes on it does manage to get better as it goes on, but it is never quite enough to make up for the excruciating first half hour or so. As a remake, it’s disappointing, but definitely not one of the worst. As a film, it’s tolerable at best but does have its charming moments.
