'OVERBOARD': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
A remake of the 1987 hit, of the same name, with a gender reversal in the lead two roles. In this version, a spoiled playboy falls off a yacht and gets amnesia, and a single working mom, that he abused, convinces him that they're married and then makes him be her slave. The film stars Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris, Eva Longoria, John Hannah and Swoosie Kurtz. It was directed by Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher (two veteran screenwriters in their directorial debuts), and it was written by Greenberg, Fisher and Leslie Dixon. The film has received mostly negative reviews from critics but I enjoyed it mostly.
Kate (Faris) is a single working mother of three, that's desperately trying to become a nurse (while working multiple jobs). She takes a job cleaning for a spoiled rich manchild, named Leonardo (Derbez), who abuses and fires her. Then Leonardo has an accident and gets amnesia, and Kate tricks him into thinking he's her husband. She then gets revenge (for his past abuse) by making him work a really hard construction job, and do all of the cooking and cleaning for her and her daughters.
I was a big fan of the original movie when I was a kid, it was a favorite of my family (that we watched repeatedly), so I was definitely interested in seeing this film. It didn't disappoint me; I like the gender role reversal and I like the casting (both of the leads are really good in it). The premise and humor of the movie is definitely a little silly (but so was the original). The film also has some genuine emotional moments in it too. I recommend it, especially if you're a fan of the original; and I love that they kept it set in Oregon (like the 1987 film)!
