Plot
Robin Monroe, a New York magazine editor, and the gruff pilot Quinn Harris must put aside their mutual dislike if they are to survive after crash landing on a deserted South Seas island.

Release Year: 1998

Rating: 5.6/10 (34,207 voted)

Critic's Score: 51/100

Director: Ivan Reitman

Stars: Harrison Ford, Anne Heche, David Schwimmer

Storyline
Taking a romantic tropical island week off with her boyfriend, an ambitious, decisive New York girl agrees to help her magazine out by covering a story on a neighbouring island. The only plane available is piloted by a laid-back heavy drinker with whom she shares a mutual dislike. But she has no choice and he can't refuse the money. When the plane crash-lands on an uninhabited island with little chance of rescue they both wish they had made other arrangements - at least to start with.

Cast:
Harrison Ford - Quinn Harris
Anne Heche - Robin Monroe
David Schwimmer - Frank Martin
Jacqueline Obradors - Angelica
Temuera Morrison - Jager
Allison Janney - Marjorie, Robin's Boss
Douglas Weston - Philippe Sinclair, Resort Manager
Cliff Curtis - Kip
Danny Trejo - Pierce
Ben Bode - Tom Marlowe, Helicopter Pilot
Derek Basco - Ricky, Helicopter Crewman
Amy Sedaris - Robin's Secretary
Long Nguyen - Pirate
Jake Feagai - Pirate
John Koyama - Pirate

Taglines: After this week in paradise, they're going to need a vacation.

Release Date: 12 June 1998

Filming Locations: Kaua'i, Hawaii, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $16,485,276 (USA) (14 June 1998) (2550 Screens)

Gross: $164,829,966 (Worldwide) (1999)

Runtime: 98 min

Trivia:
Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Julia Roberts all turned down the role of Robin.

Goofs:
Continuity: In the wreck of the airplane, there is a bar across the top of the wings. But, in other shots it is not there.

Quotes:
Quinn Harris: What's that you're taking?
Robin Monroe: Xanax. My doctor prescribed them for situations of tension, and I think this qualifies.
Quinn Harris: Give me a couple.
Robin Monroe: You just drive.

I can't help myself when it comes to Harrison Ford...

Rating: 8/10

I rented this a few days ago having discovered it was a Harrison Ford movie I somehow missed. Even though I'm a big fan of his, I really didn't expect much based on the jacket description. But, Eureka! I was completely charmed by this movie. Ford has a very low key way of delivering comedy and when you see a manly man like him being funny, it is all the more hilarious. Anne Heche is captivating as the gamin New York fashion sophisticate who happens to be very smart & sassy but grounded. She also has a tremendous flair for comedy and she plays off Ford in a grand way that Melanie Griffith couldn't even dream about doing in Working Girl. Griffith sleepwalked through that script whereas Heche embraces her character fully.

There is a very unique thing that happens in this film that we don't see very often and that is how the romantic chemistry builds between the lead characters. It is as natural as the flora and fauna of the island they are trapped on - rather randomly and sometimes awkwardly taking root - and I give a lot of credit to Reitman for capturing this feeling between Ford & Heche. With most films like this, the leads either hop into bed right away and then sort out their differences, or there is no indication of increasing mutual affection until the last 10 minutes when someone slaps their forehead and a light goes on. In this movie, you see so many small moments when one character is creeping into the heart of the other. Despite this, it never gets sappy.

I'd rate this movie as a 7 but am giving it an 8 to try to raise its overall score. It's a very, very good romantic comedy with a funny script, witty direction, great tropical locales, and an eclectic but engaging supporting cast.

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