All AT SEA .......... (Captain Jack (DVD))

Member Name: broksababe

Product:	Captain Jack (DVD)
Date:	24/11/01 (165 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ideal for the Family

Disadvantages: Not a huge lavish cast

Many of you will not even have heard of this film, despite being a UK release in 1998., It did not do as well as hoped by any means, why I’m not sure but will tell you about it anyway.

Captain Jack was actually filmed here where I unfortunately live..lol, in Whitby, a picturesque fishing Town in the North of England, lovely in Summer and dismal at all other times, anyway the film was loosely based on one of Whitby’s own sea farers called Jack Lammiman, he was until a few years ago quite a character and this was enough to warrant a major film being made.

The star of this film is Bob Hoskins, accompanied by Sadie Frost, Peter MacDonald, Anna Massey, David Troughton, Jemma Jones, and Maureen Lipman to name a few, yes no major stars here but still good old reliable well known names.

~~Basic Story ~~

Captain Jack is as his name states the Captain of a boat, a boat now only ferrying tourists out to sea, and business is abysmal, so bad in fact that he decides to throw the towel in.

However Jack has an unusual passion, in fact a passion so strong it rules his life, no other than the seafarer of 1791 Captain Scoresby.
Jack is obsessed that Scoresby has not received his true recognition in Whitby, so he decides as a tribute he will follow in his footsteps to the Arctic in order to place a plaque of thank you from the town of Whitby.

Of course any Captain needs a crew and with not a lot on offer he takes whoever is willing, these turn out to be the most unusual mixed bag you would ever see, An Australian Hitchhiker, two elderly sisters, a hen pecked husband and a love struck teenager.

Jacks journey is of course illegal as his boat fails its seaworthy certificate, and this all adds to the drama as they are pursued by the authority’s and various others!.

Various comic antics keep you enthralled throughout but this is not just a comedy but an adventure film as well, there are pl
enty of tense moments also thrown in to add to the suspense.

The rag and tag crew are a comedy act at first but good old Captain Jack turns even the old ladies into able crewmen.

Remember this is supposed to depict a true story so it cannot be too comical, you wonder if the crew will make it, will Jack get to the Arctic?, a journey of true devotion but is it too much to expect from the old boat The Yorkshire Beauty.

~~THE CAST~~

Captain Jack (Bob Hoskins)
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An excellent character as the seaman, Hoskins was perfect for this role, he is so appealing anyway, with his warming smile and cheeky twinkle in his eye, Jack has true dedication in his cause and beliefs and is such a warm character.

Andy (Peter MacDonald)
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An Aussie Backpacker who has run away to escape the hoards of females back home who are chasing him.(.he’s not that nice!), he comes to Whitby for some peace and ends up finding Jack and becoming the first crew member, a likeable character but a little on the too nice and dreary side.

Eunice and Phoebe (Jemma Jones, Anna Massey)
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Phoebe the eldest of the two sisters, she has a serious fascination with Jack and his boat and spends her days painting it on the pier, she is fed up to death with her sister whom she lives with, as all she does is nag her and bully her, hence she cannot wait to volunteer as one of the crew. Phoebe is at first a weak, simple character who throughout the film gets a backbone, a lovely old dear.

Eunice, she will not let her sister do anything without putting her sister down, she really will not let phoebe do anything at all and makes her life a sheer misery.
Eunice is at first unlike able and when she insists on joining the crew your heart goes out to Phoebe but things might change.

Emmet (David T
roughton)
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Emmet is currently on holiday in the caravan park with the obese wife from hell (Michelle Dotrice), and obese son, he will do anything in the world to escape from his family, even join the crew to the Antarctic when he has never been on a boat in his life and is a total wimp.
A spineless character that is no good at anything at first but in the end gets what he truly deserves and becomes a hero.

Tessa (Sadie Frost)
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Tessa is the daughter of the local fish and chip entrepreneur, her father provides the funding and plaque for Jacks trip, once she claps eyes on Andy she is love struck and will do anything to get him, even stowing away on the boat to tag along.
Tessa is a typical semi brained teenager who has one thing on her mind..Ahem, her character is amusing and almost believable.

Barbara (Maureen Lipman)
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Well Barbara is the apple of Jacks eye, and she is just as infatuated with him too, she runs the caravan park and aids Jack in the deceit of his journey.
Maureen however is herself and she seems to be very limited as she is no different in this role to any of her others or adverts, she seems to be set full stop, but she is a likeable character and her role is not demanding in anyway.

TO SUM UP
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Overall a very entertaining film, lots of picturesque scenes from Whitby too.
This swashbuckling adventure will not blow your mind or overtax your brain, but it is well made, and thoroughly enjoyable and surprisingly it did not do to well, however it is out to rent if you fancy it, its worth a watch.

Directed by Robert Young
Running time 90 minutes
Certificate U

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