Movie Review: “Overboard” update is mildly amusing

Movie Review: “Overboard” (PG-13)

Nothing in Hollywood is off limits. Not even a charming little ’80s gem like “Overboard.” The 1987 film was directed by the late Garry Marshall, and while that cute comedy proved to be a modest hit at the box office, it was really the undeniable chemistry provided by real-life couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell that made the movie so darn likable. This new version was spearhead by original “Overboard” screenwriter Leslie Dixon and while its stars, Anna Faris (“Scary Movie”) and Eugenio Derbez (“How to Be a Latin Lover”), aren’t without their own brand of charm, they are unable to generate the sparks that Russell and Hawn brought to the table over 30 years ago.

This 2018 updating of “Overboard” goes the gender-swapping route and finds struggling single mom Kate (Faris) tricking spoiled richie Leonardo (Derbez) into believing that they’re married after he falls from his multi-million-dollar yacht and comes down with a bad case of amnesia. Leonardo has lived a life of privilege and has never worked a day in his life, but that all changes once he’s brought into Kate’s working-class world. Of course, the longer these two live this facade, the closer they become. And not surprisingly, they eventually bring out the best in each other.

As was the case with the original, this take on “Overboard” is a high-concept comedy. It features the kind of easy-to-digest setup that one might find in a popular sitcom. The beats here are virtually the same, although it should be noted that at one point in this picture the events in the original “Overboard” are actually referenced, making this movie a  quasi-sequel of sorts. The one really appealing wrinkle that Dixon throws into the mix is the culture clash/Latino flavor. This aspect of the film breaks down stereotypes, and “Overboard” is all the more endearing for it. It also goes a long way to ensure that this movie will appeal to a much larger demographic.

As for the central performances, Faris has always been a cute, bubbly, likable personality, and she brings those same attributes to “Overboard.” But this movie really belongs to a goofy Derbez. This very popular Latino actor channels Hawn’s persona from the original in all the right ways, and he’s a lot of fun to watch here. He’s charming, too, particularly when he’s bonding with the working-class men he eventually calls his co-workers and even more so when he’s connecting with Kate’s daughters. Unfortunately, there aren’t any real sparks between Kate and Leonardo, and that does hurt the movie to a certain degree.  Beyond that, “Overboard” does benefit from an appealing supporting cast, including a likable Mel Rodriguez, a lovely Eva Longoria, a nutty Swoosie Kurtz, an affable John Hannah, and an eccentric Mariana Trevino — who would be wise to take cello lessons.

“Overboard” wraps up a little too quickly, and again, the predictable plot here is sitcom-tier and requires a great deal of suspension of disbelief. That said, this isn’t the train wreck I thought it might be going in. It’s isn’t a comic masterwork by any stretch of the imagination, and it isn’t as straight-up entertaining as the original, but it does offer engaging moments and just enough charm to make it worthy of a mild recommendation.

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