Release Date: 18 Dec 1987
Run Time: 112 minutes
Origin: USA
Mimi's Rating: 3 1/2 macaroni necklaces out of 5
A spoiled socialite suffering from amnesia gets taken in by a working-class man whom she mistreated.
When spoiled Heiress Joanna Stayton (Goldie Hawn) finds herself waiting for yacht repairs in the small seaside town of Elk Grove, she hires local carpenter Dean Proffitt (Kurt Russell) to remodel her closet. While Dean produced a quality closet, Joanna is upset that he used oak instead of cedar. During the ensuing argument, Dean and his tools get tossed overboard. Later that night, when Joanna is trying to retrieve her wedding ring, she also tumbles off the side of the yacht. When Joanna ends up in the local hospital with amnesia, Dean seizes his chance to get revenge. He takes Joanna home to his four young sons and convinces her that she is their mother, Annie. How will the now mother of four Annie handle her new life slumming it in Elk Grove? Find out in Overboard!
Goldie Hawn's outfits during the opening of this movie are absolute 80s insanity. I watched this on cable often growing up, but I didn't remember that eye-popping swimsuit. I'm wondering if it got cut for TV.
What's also insane is the entire plot of this movie. Kurt Russell spends the majority of the time torturing this poor woman. When he gets her home to his hell-spawn kids, he makes her his personal drudge. It's super problematic, yet somehow, the pure magnetism of its stars makes it work. He makes her ride in the box of his truck; I mean, come on. Goldie Hawn is just so funny it works. She brings a physicality to the role, where every move she makes brings the character to life. And the chemistry between her and Russell is practically leaping from the screen.
This movie is a real child of the 80s. It's a movie that shouldn't work, yet somehow does. While it relies heavily on the charisma and chemistry of its leads, there's also that comfy layer of 80s comedy charm smeared over it that viewers today can enjoy. That is if you can get past that insane premise.
Why you should watch:
Both Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell are great at comedy.
It's a great 'slobs vs. snobs' 80s comedy.
Why you shouldn't watch:
You don't think you can look past the admittedly problematic plot.