Tanya’s Score: Good*
Rated: PG
Starring: a boy called River; Indiana; the Queen
Plot: An erratic inventor (Harrison Ford) packs his family up and moves them out of the U.S. and into the jungles of Central America where they plan on creating a utopian society.
Tanya’s Verdict: It’s funny how the mind plays tricks on a boy-crazy girl in the 80s. Based on my slim recollections of this movie, I thought the main plot revolved around a budding romance between teen characters portrayed by River Phoenix and Martha Plimpton. Having re-watched it all these years later – without my brain being clouded by teen hormones – I realize this couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, the two teens barely even share any screen time together. (I may be mixing this movie up with Running on Empty – where Phoenix and Plimpton indeed play sweethearts.)
Only now, rewatching as an adult, I realize how The Mosquito Coast focuses on the downward spiral of a mad genius brought to life by Ford. Like most movies created before the advent of cellphones, this one is a slow burn. It takes its sweet old time to lay the scene and create the tension leading to the inevitable dramatic conclusion.
My kids – with both their movie-appreciating and patience genes as yet under-developed – declared it “boring“. But in my opinion, it’s far from boring. I liked it. And what can I say – River Phoenix has not lost his charm on me – even all these years later.
*Four Score Descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great