The Castaways on Gilligan's Island

It had to happen. "Rescue From Gilligan's Island" was such a ratings smash that the network executives had to milk some more money out of it. In fact, these reunion movies probably started the entire business of converting old television shows into big-budget movies. Unfortunately, no attempt was made to lure Ginger back to the role which made her so famous. Her absence and the conspicous presence of Judith Baldwin are one of the few factors from making this movie as great as the first. The plot goes that the island was once used as a landing strip during the war and the castaways stumble across the planes; you'd think that after thirteen years on the island they would have stumbled across them a long time ago. The Professor uses some very deductive reasoning to peice together a plane from the parts to get off the island, but it falls apart and they get rescued anyway when the Coast Guard investigates the odd craft. Sticking to the promises he made during the series, Mr. Howell converts the series to a resort. The construction of which was supposed to lead to a new weekly series along the lines of "Fantasy Island." Bob Denver as Gilligan again gets to stretch a small bit with some dramatic license as he befriends a young tourist, but most of the movie is the same cartoony humor of the series. Even with the altered premises from the original series, the Skipper and Gilligan are still clad in the limited wardrobe of their old costumes rather than given a clothes budget. Still, the movie does harken back to the series, but unfortunately it stays there rather than going to the next level. On a whole, the movie is a wonderful if not slightly askew bit of nostalgia, but the only audience for it are the fans of the original series, and little kids who will love the inane humor.

This was pretty much a waste of the original cast. The first reunion movie was fine, but this came off more like a combination of the original series and "The Love Boat". You could pretty much tell that this was supposed to be a pilot for a new version of the show just by the amount of guest stars on here, including Marcia Wallace (formerly of "The Bob Newhart Show") and Tom Bosley (who was on the still popular "Happy Days"). Too bad this follow up came about twelve years too late. I would have loved to have seen how it would have come out closer to the end of the original show.

I want you to know with the way the movie starts out by Gilligan walking along and finding that World War 2 Bomber after getting yelled at by the Skipper it gets things going. It amazes me how the professor is able to have everyone pedal on bicycles to start the engines on that old airplane. Also it is so funny how when Gilligan falls out of the plane and they land to get him. I think that is funny because when they are all feeling sad and that Navy captain shows up and they get so excited that now their island is on the maps. It is really funny how they have turned the island into a beach resort. I really like it when it shows the one guest sneaking into the lobby and finding that hidden pay phone inside that hollow tree. I also like what Gilligan does when he is hunting down that little boy who feels his parents overwork him. This movie should be put onto DVD so we can all see it again. Since the original TV series is all on DVD they should put all three movies that make the ending of the island show onto DVD!

The Castaways on Gilligan's Island (1979)

** (out of 4)

The second made-for-television movie has Gilligan and his buddies finally getting rescued but they then decide to turn their beautiful island into a resort. One of their first couples is a work-a-holic (Tom Bosley) and his wife (Marcia Wallace) who wants him to chill out and have some fun. Will the crew be able to change him?

RESCUE FROM GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, somehow, turned out to be one of the biggest and most watched made-for-television movies ever made so it was obvious we'd get something else. Look, I'm really not a fan of the television show and I haven't watched it in probably twenty years. I never really found it all that funny but I will admit that it contained some sort of weird charm that might infect people to where they become fans.

This film here is perfectly built like one of the shows because there are so many dumb moments but at the same time you can't help but be mildly amused by the stuff. The original Gilligan's Island cast members certainly fit back into their roles without any problem. Both Bosley and Wallace are fine as are the rest of the supporting players. The production values are obviously cheap and it looks like there wasn't much of a budget but if you're a fan of the series then it's likely you're going to be entertained with this.

I grew up on Gilligan's Island, so I was incredibly excited when the Rescue movie and the Castways movie was released before the word reboot became ubiquitous. Wonderful to see the gang back. Even though Tina Louise didn't appear in this and the next two reunion movies, ironically she's the last surviving cast member.

This movie is lots of fun, and it brings back fond memories. It's a shame the network passed on the series option a la The Love Boat.