MovieChat Forums > The Mosquito Coast (1986) Discussion > Who was this film aimed at anyway?

Who was this film aimed at anyway?

posted 12 years ago by Leoneswest
3 replies | jump to latest

When this film failed at the box office, many involved (including weir and ford) were perplexed and disappointed.

But seriously, what were they expecting?. The film features a lead character who is an unsympathetic bastard (hardly a stretch for ford) who forces his family to live in the wild and is horrible to everyone. So how were audiences supposed to relate to him?. And then the supporting cast who play his family have nothing to work with and are there simply to hold his coattails. A real shame when Helen Mirren and river phoenix are among them.

Also the film has no entertainment value whatsoever. There is no humour, no likeable characters..nothing. Okay I realise that that filmmakers were trying to make a serious film, but did they have make it a complete bore. Witness was a serious film, but the little bits of humour they added helped make it more audience friendly. This film seems to be trying to distance them in any possible way.

Of course weir and ford had just come off the success of Witness and back in the 80's Ford was considered a box-office star so maybe that would explain a few things. But frankly, films like mosquito coast are better suited as TV fare. Not the big screen.

[–] econobiker 11 years ago

Excellent and truthful review of this stinker!
At least I have found one other person who understands how bad this piece of cinematic garbage was.

[–] balthazar_bee 10 years ago

It's an interesting question.

I have to think the powers that be figured Ford would be naturally likable, even in a role like this -- his previous roles would "bleed through" and prevent the audience from growing weary of him.

It was, in my opinion, something of a miscalculation. Don't get me wrong -- I think Ford is quite good in the role -- but it's clear his dedication to the part drove him away from cheap "likable" moments. Good for him, on one hand, but it probably hurt the film's overall success. Audiences don't tend to like being berated for two hours, even (or especially) by Harrison Ford.

Also the film has no entertainment value whatsoever.

Different strokes. I think it's quite entertaining, mostly because I find myself continually surprised by how far Allie Fox is willing to take his potentially fatal whimsy in pursuit of a "pure" existence. And how often his skill set manages to win the day. It's almost like he's intoxicated by the romance of his own self-reliance -- and it's hard not to be, up to a point.

But frankly, films like mosquito coast are better suited as TV fare. Not the big screen.

Here too, I disagree -- this movie is really only successful if experienced properly. A big screen makes the locations pop, and sitting in a theatre is more immersive than sitting on your couch, where you can pause to take calls, make conversation and so on. The stifling nature of the movie isn't really captured unless the viewer is trapped, like Fox's family.

[–] 10 years ago

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